Publishers Weekly
Sypeck affectionately peers behind the legends surrounding Charlemagne and magnificently chronicles four significant years in the emperor's life. From 796 to 800, Charlemagne, the king of the Franks, consolidated his kingdom through military exploits, religious diplomacy and political treaties. His love for order, his respect for education and books, his reverence for his religion and his dealings with Muslims established his reputation as a king to be feared and respected. In 800, Charlemagne's life and the destiny of Europe changed forever when Pope Leo III anointed the Frankish king as the emperor of Rome. Although the new emperor attempted to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western Christianity by marrying Irene, the empress of Constantinople, her subjects so feared the alliance that they kidnapped and exiled Irene, preventing Charlemagne from achieving this aim. Sypeck, who teaches medieval literature at the University of Maryland, paints a splendid portrait of the emperor's various supporters, including Isaac, his Jewish envoy to Baghdad; Harun al-Rashid, the legendary caliph of Baghdad who, though the two never met, believed that he and Charlemagne would be great military and political companions; and the elephant, Abul Abaz, a gift from Harun. Sypeck's history offers dazzling glimpses of Charlemagne's life and times and of his journey to become the legendary emperor. 11 b&w illus., 1 map. (Dec.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
Library Journal
This is the story of how one medieval king named Karl was shaped and guided to become the profoundly important Emperor Charlemagne. Sypeck (Holy Roman Empire; Charlemagne in World History) laces together tales of prominent eighth-century figures who influenced Karl. Uppermost were Alcuin, a British Saxon and the "most learned man anywhere"; Leo III, the possibly corrupt pope in need of the protection of a "Great Man"; Empress Irene of Constantinople, who craved power and control so much that she mutilated her own son; and Harun al-Rashid, the caliph in Baghdad, ruler of the entire Muslim world, who gave Karl the famous gift of a pure white elephant. All are woven into a tale of the shining time when Karl, already king of the Franks and king of the Lombards, was crowned Imperator Augustus by Leo III in Rome in 800. All too soon, Karl's light began to dim. After his death in 814, his surviving legitimate son, Louis "the Pious," inherited the throne, claimed that his father was far from perfect, and debased Karl's achievements. Louis's own sons then irrevocably fractured the empire into the nations that are with us today as France, Germany, and Italy. Aimed at a general audience, this short, well-written book tells the story very accessibly and is highly recommended for all libraries. Robert Harbison, Western Kentucky Univ. Lib., Bowling Green Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
An account of the Germanic king Karl, whose legend has obscured the facts and embellished his accomplishments. Like Robin Hood and King Arthur, Charlemagne is a historical figure who has become something more than human with the passage of time. After being crowned emperor of Rome by Pope Leo III on Christmas day in a.d. 800, he stood as one of the most powerful men in the world, a monarch who defended the church, consolidated and codified laws and sought to break down linguistic barriers dividing the people of Europe. His legacy casts a long shadow even today, particularly in Brussels, where the European Union's headquarters is named in his honor. Unlike the 200-year-old sage in the epic Song of Roland, however, the real Charlemagne, known as Karl, was more likely to be found swimming or enjoying the ruckus created by his grandchildren than issuing grand proclamations that would alter the course of world history. Sypeck, who previously covered this subject for middle-schoolers (The Holy Roman Empire and Charlemagne in World History, not reviewed), works here to deconstruct and dispel myths about both Charlemagne and his era. He also explores the Frankish kingdom's relative religious harmony, highlighted by Karl's peaceful overtures toward Muslim caliph Harun al-Rashid and his comparatively benevolent treatment of Jews (who would endure far worse, the author notes, in the centuries to come). Al-Rashid's gift of Abul Abaz, an elephant delivered to Karl by his Jewish ambassador, epitomizes this intermingling of cultures. Debunking the myths that surround legendary figures is a tricky business, but Sypeck acknowledges the allure of the ways in which Charlemagne and his era have beenromanticized, mitigating the sting and turning it into an educational opportunity. Illuminates the shadowy corners of an era shrouded in the mists of legend.
From the Publisher
Illuminates the shadowy corners of an era shrouded in the mists of legend.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Magnificently chronicles four significant years in the emperor’s life...a splendid portrait...dazzling glimpses of Charlemagne’s life.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
