Charlemagne and the Meteor

By Craig: Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne "Emperor of the West" in the year 800 for his services in the name of Jesus Christ. Charlemagne had consolidated the Germanic tribes and put an end to the barbarian incursions into France and what would later become Italy. These barbarian raids had become a thorn in the side of progress. The period of time from Charlemagne in the 9th century until the Norman conquest of England two centuries later was a transitional period in European history. Most western countries had by this time been drawn into the web of the Christian faith. Those who were not were looked upon with scorn and derision. They were considered barbaric infidels who were destined to enter Hell upon death. The medieval era had begun. This was the time of the castle and the moat.It was during this period of history that the Roman church's influence among the populace would attain it's highest level. It was a time of coming to terms with God. Nobleman and peasant alike lived their lives for the sole purpose of attaining eternal salvation. This was also a time when monks recorded strange prodigies seen in the sky. these reports almost always had a foreboding sense of doom written into them, often associated with plagues, pestilence, and war.

                                                          Charlemagne (744-814)

     A contemporary biographer of Charlemagne named Einhard recorded in his Vita Caroli an event that took place in the year 810. Charlemagne was leading a campaign into Saxony against the Danish King Godefrid. Shortly before sunrise the army set out on the day's march. The king was riding along at the head of his army a fireball appeared in the sky. Einhard writes "Charlemagne saw a meteor flash down from the heavens and pass along the clear sky from right to left with a great blaze of light." This fireball must have been quite a sight for it spooked the king's horse which lowered it's head causing it's rider to tumble to the ground. The force of the fall was so violent that it broke the buckle on his cloak, and his sword and belt were torn off. At the time he was thrown he had been holding a javelin, and this weapon was found nearly twenty feet away. However, Charlemagne was a stoic warrior, and this fall in no way shook his resolve. He continued with the mission as if nothing had happened. Perhaps a more timid ruler would have read some sort of omen in this mishap, but Charlemagne was no ordinary king. According to Einhard he refused to believe that this fireball from heaven had anything to do with the business at hand.

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