Confronting Crisis in the Carolingian Empire

Mayke de Jong, Justin Lake, Simon Maclean

"This book presents a new translation of the 'Epitaph for Arsenius' by Paschasius Radbertus (Radbert), a monk of Corbie. A daring defence of Charlemagne's cousin Wala, onetime abbot of Corbie, the 'Epitaph' is about ideals of religious and political leadership, articulated by an author who was an actor in his own narrative. To newcomers and seasoned scholars alike, Radbert offers a fascinating window onto a rapidly changing Carolingian world. Nicknamed 'Arsenius' by his monks, after a late-antique monastic pioneer, Wala played a leading part in the two rebellions against Louis the Pious, Charlemagne's son and successor, in 830-3, before dying in exile in 836. In a now-hostile political climate, Radbert set about repairing Wala's damaged reputation, arguing that his abbot had not been unfaithful to the emperor. He did so in the form of a spirited conversation between himself and...