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Carloman, Charlemagne and Dynastic Rivalries in the Eighth Century
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Description
This study is a vital reassessment of neglected medieval ruler King Carloman, who is so often found in the shadow of Charlemagne. Te information we have about him, transmitted by the Carolingian narrative texts or documents, has rarely been investigated before now.
Marco Stoffella draws on a wide range of sources including letters, charters and diplomas to show that Carloman played a central political role in the Frankish kingdom which he ruled for three years. Stoffella suggests that it was Carloman, not Charlemagne, who was the Frankish king who married Gerberga, the Lombard princess. This emerging hypothesis leads to a reconsideration of further aspects of both Carloman's and Charlemagne's early careers.
Evidence from minor annals that have been relatively disregarded until now, together with a fresh scrutiny of Pippin's and Carloman's diplomas, suggests that it was possibly Carloman rather than Charlemagne who was Pippin's first-born son. Following this interpretation, Carloman, Charlemagne and Dynastic Rivalries in the Eighth Century reflects on the extent and successfulness of Carolingian royal and imperial propaganda which re-shaped the early stages of Charlemagne's career, stressing his authority and blaming Carloman and his followers for the conflicts that emerged in Francia and in Italy between 768 and 771. The pro-Charlemagne sources even obscured the fate of the young king, and completely ignored the destiny of his wife and children. These new findings and arguments are expertly framed here and are of huge significance to our understanding of Charlemagne's conquest of the Lombard kingdom and policy south of the Alps.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Fortune of a Neglected King: Carloman in 9th-Century Royal Biographies and Annals
3. A New King, Two Legitimate Heirs: Pippin, Carloman and Charlemagne before October 768
4. Two Brothers, one Kingdom: Division or Co-Rulership after October 768?
5. New Kings, New bBrides: The Papacy, Alienigena Coniugia and Frankish International Policy
6. When a King Dies Young: The Fatal Conflict with Charlemagne and its Consequences
7. Key Figures at the Court of Carloman: Fulrad of St. Denis, Maginarius, Warin and Adalhard
8. Aristocracy in the Provinces of Carloman's Kingdom before and after his Death
9. Epilogue: A Roman Sarcophagus for King Carloman, Oblivion for the Queen and her Sons
10. Conclusions
Bibliography
Index
Product details

Published | Apr 16 2026 |
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Format | Hardback |
Edition | 1st |
Extent | 272 |
ISBN | 9781350169371 |
Imprint | Bloomsbury Academic |
Illustrations | 4 bw illus |
Dimensions | 9 x 6 inches |
Series | Studies in Early Medieval History |
Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |