Book contents
- Making the Holy Roman Empire Holy
- Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought Fourth Series
- Making the Holy Roman Empire Holy
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Illustrations
- Tables
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1 Sacrum imperium: Lombard Influence and the Sacralisation of the State in the mid-Twelfth Century (1125–1167)
- 2 Sacrum imperium II: The Barometer of Lombard Influence at Court (1167–1190 and Beyond)
- 3 The Cult of Charlemagne from His Death to the Accession of Frederick Barbarossa (814–1152)
- 4 The Canonisation of Charlemagne in 1165
- 5 The Barbarossaleuchter: Imperial Monument and Pious Donation
- 6 The Reliquary Shrine of Saint Charlemagne: The High Point of the Sacrum imperium?
- Conclusion
- Appendix The Decorative Imagery of the Karlsschrein
- Bibliography
- Index
5 - The Barbarossaleuchter: Imperial Monument and Pious Donation
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 May 2024
- Making the Holy Roman Empire Holy
- Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought Fourth Series
- Making the Holy Roman Empire Holy
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Illustrations
- Tables
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1 Sacrum imperium: Lombard Influence and the Sacralisation of the State in the mid-Twelfth Century (1125–1167)
- 2 Sacrum imperium II: The Barometer of Lombard Influence at Court (1167–1190 and Beyond)
- 3 The Cult of Charlemagne from His Death to the Accession of Frederick Barbarossa (814–1152)
- 4 The Canonisation of Charlemagne in 1165
- 5 The Barbarossaleuchter: Imperial Monument and Pious Donation
- 6 The Reliquary Shrine of Saint Charlemagne: The High Point of the Sacrum imperium?
- Conclusion
- Appendix The Decorative Imagery of the Karlsschrein
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
Chapter five moves to the third main theme of the book, that of Aachen itself. Where earlier scholars took note of only a few sources, Sulovsky reconstructs Barbarossa’s crown chandelier, known as the Barbarossaleuchter, on the basis of findings ranging from annals, charters, liturgical books and theological literature to the visual and textual consonances of the chandelier with other parts of the Marienkirche in Aachen. This demonstrates deep traditionalism of Aachen, including the link between Aachen’s Carolingian dome mosaics, Alcuin’s commentary on the Apocalypse that was its textual counterpart and exposition, and the Barbarossaleuchter, which imitates both the dome and the commentary numerologically and visually. By using the annals of Aachen, a text barely noticed by historians, the dating of the chandelier’s inauguration is established. The chapter shows how Saladin’s emissaries were kept in attendance during Easter 1174, when the chandelier was being dedicated, so that Barbarossa could have Arabic representatives present. This was done in order to imitate Charlemagne’s cordial relationship with the Arab caliph Harun al-Rashid, who had given his Christian counterpart two golden candelabra, which Charlemagne then dedicated to the Virgin of Aachen. Thus, Frederick was not trying to sacralise the Empire, but to follow Charlemagne’s example.
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- Making the Holy Roman Empire HolyFrederick Barbarossa, Saint Charlemagne and the <i>sacrum imperium</i>, pp. 194 - 235Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2024