The Symbolic Language of Authority in the Carolingian World (c. 751–877) Brill’s Series on the Early Middle Ages (continuation of The Transformation of the Roman World) Managing Editor Bonnie Effros State University of New York, Binghamton Editorial Board Deborah Deliyannis (Indiana University) Edward James (University of Reading) Walter Pohl (Austrian Academy of Sciences) VOLUME 16 The Symbolic Language of Authority in the Carolingian World (c. 751–877) By Ildar H. Garipzanov LEIDEN • BOSTON 2008 Cover illustration: The dedicatory image of Charles the Bald in his fi rst Bible (845). © Bibliothèque nationale de France (Paris), Ms. lat. 1, fol. 423r. This book is printed on acid-free paper. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Garipzanov, Ildar H. The Symbolic language of authority in the Carolingian world (c. 751–877) / by Ildar H. Garipzanov. p. cm.—(Brill’s series on the early Middle Ages, ISSN 1386-4165 ; v. 16) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-90-04-16669-1 (hbk. : alk. paper) 1. Carolingians—History. 2. Symbolism in politics—France—History. 3. Symbolism in politics—Europe—History. 4. Political culture—France—History. 5. Political culture—Europe—History. 6. Civilization, Medieval. I. Title. II. Series. DC70.G37 2008 944’.014—dc22 2008009744 ISSN 1386-4165 ISBN 978 90 04 16669 1 Copyright 2008 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands. Koninklijke Brill NV incorporates the imprints Brill, Hotei Publishing, IDC Publishers, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers and VSP. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher. Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use is granted by Koninklijke Brill NV provided that the appropriate fees are paid directly to The Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Suite 910, Danvers, MA 01923, USA. Fees are subject to change. printed in the netherlands To my mother, Naila M. Garipzanova (1934–2007) CONTENTS List of Illustrations ...................................................................... ix List of Abbreviations .................................................................. xv Preface ......................................................................................... xvii Chapter One Introduction: The Symbolic Language of Carolingian Authority ........................................................ 1 (a) Early medieval politics and modern historiography ........ 4 (b) The symbolic language of authority: Methodological principles ........................................................................... 13 (c) The main media of the symbolic language of Carolingian authority ............................................................................ 27 (d) Rex Francorum—imperator Augustus—gratia Dei rex: The main codes in the symbolic language of Carolingian authority ........................................................ 39 Chapter Two Vox auctoritatis: The Carolingian Liturgy of Authority ............................................................................ 43 (a) In search of the Carolingian liturgy of authority ........... 46 (b) The Gelasian Mass for Kings (Missa pro regibus) and its early Carolingian audiences (c. 750–800) ................... 58 (c) The royal masses of Benedict of Aniane and The Everyday Mass for a King (Missa cotidiana pro rege) ................ 68 (d) Liturgical reform and the issue of liturgical audiences in the fi rst half of the ninth century ............................... 74 (e) Regional variations in royal masses after the reform of Benedict of Aniane (c. 821–877) ................................. 83 (f ) The liturgy of authority and the court of Charles the Bald ............................................................................. 89 Chapter Three Nomen auctoritatis: Communication of Authority in Carolingian Titles .............................................. 101 (a) Communicative nature of Carolingian titles ................... 101 (b) Inscriptio and intitulatio in Carolingian letters .................... 106 (c) The name of authority communicated ............................ 120 viii contents (d) Standardization of Carolingian intitulature and the growing signifi cance of the symbolic formula of legitimation ........................................................................ 140 Chapter Four Signum auctoritatis: Changing Signs of Carolingian Authority ............................................................. 157 (a) The developments of the early medieval signum before the reign of Charlemagne ................................................ 161 (b) Charlemagne’s monogram: origins and implications ...... 173 (c) A Roman imperial “revival” of the Carolingian signum (800 –830s) ......................................................................... 182 (d) The signs of Carolingian authority in Italy (800 –870s) .... 188 (e) The use of monograms to the north of the Alps and the birth of “medieval” signs of authority (840 –870s) ... 194 Chapter Five Imago auctoritatis: Visual Dialogue on Carolingian Authority ............................................................. 203 (a) The portrait image on coins ............................................. 208 (b) The portrait image on seals and bulls ............................. 216 (c) Images of David ............................................................... 224 (d) The image of the ruler in Carolingian imperial art ....... 228 (e) Rulers’ portraits in religious manuscripts in the time of Charles the Bald .......................................................... 235 Chapter Six Conclusion: The Transformation of the Symbolic Language of Carolingian Authority ...................... 261 (a) Rex Francorum: Frankish tradition continued ..................... 262 (b) Rex Francorum, David, and populus Christianus: New trends in the second half of Charlemagne’s reign ..... 272 (c) Imperator Augustus and imperium Christianum: The appropriation of Roman imperial tradition ............. 286 (d) Gratia Dei rex: The dawn of “medieval” tradition ............ 305 Epilogue ...................................................................................... 319 Appendices .................................................................................. 323 Selected Bibliography ................................................................. 347 Index ........................................................................................... 383 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 1. A tremissis of Grimoald (788–791), Benevento. Courtesy of the American Numismatic Society, New York. Obv.: GRIMVALD, ducal bust facing. Rev.: DOMS CAR Rx (Dominus Carolus rex), VIC (victoria), cross-potent with G and R asides (Grimoald ) 2. A solidus of Philippicus (711–713), Constantinople, workshop 5. Princeton University Numismatic Collection, no. 1157. Obv.: DN FILEPICVS MVLTVS AN, imperial bust facing. Rev.: VICTORIA AVGV, E, CONOB, cross potent on four steps. 3. A denier of Louis II and Angilberga (866–871), Benevento. Courtesy of the American Numismatic Society, New York. Obv.: +LVDOVVICVS IMP, monogram Augustus Rev.: +ANGILBERGA IMP, AGU/STA in the center. 4. A denier of Pippin the Short (754/5–768). Royal Collection of Coins and Medals at National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen, no. Thomsen 1181. Obv.: RxF (rex Francorum). 5. A Merovingian tremissis of Chlothar II (613–629), Marseilles. Cour- tesy of the American Numismatic Society, New York. Obv.: CHLOTARIVS REX, bust in profi le. Rev.: CHLOTARIVS REX, cross on a globe, with the mint-name letters M and A, XI to l. and X to r. 6. A denier of Charlemagne (771–793/4), Dorestad. Historical Museum of the University of Lund. Obv.: CARO/LVS, in two lines. 7. A denier of Charlemagne (793/4–813), Melle. Royal Collection of Coins and Medals at National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen, no. FP6401,1 Obv.: +CARLVS REX FR, cross. Rev.: +METVLLO, Charlemagne’s cruciform monogram. 8. An imperial denier of Charlemagne (813–814), Milan? © Per E. Fredriksen, Museum of Natural History and Archaeology, Trond- heim, Norway: no. T 17–24. Obv.: DN KARLVS IMP AVG REX FR ET L (Dominus noster Karlus imperator Augustus rex Francorum et Langobardorum), imperial bust in profi le. Rev.: +XPICTIANA RELIGIO, Christian basilica. x list of illustrations 9. An imperial coin of Charlemagne (813–814): Royal Coin Cabinet, Stockholm, no. 101752 Obv.: KARLVS IMP AVG (Karlus imperator Augustus), imperial bust in profi le. 10. An imperial coin of Louis the Pious (814–818), Quentovic. Courtesy of the American Numismatic Society, New York. Obv.: HLVDOVVICVS IMP AVG, imperial bust in profi le. Rev.: +QVENTOVVICVS, ship. 11. An imperial coin of Louis the Pious (818–822), Tours. Courtesy of the American Numismatic Society, New York. Obv.: +HLVDOVVICVS IMP, cross. Rev.: TVRO/NES, in two lines. 12. A denier of Pippin I of Aquitaine (817), Bourges. Courtesy of the American Numismatic Society, New York. Obv.: +PIPPINVS REX, bust in profi le. Rev.: AQVITANIORVM, Christian basilica. 13. A denier of Pippin II of Aquitaine (840–852), Poitiers. Royal Coin Cabinet, Stockholm. Obv.: +PIPINVS REX EQ (Pipinus rex Equitanorum), cross. Rev.: PECTAVO, Pippin’s monogram (Pipinus). 14. A denier of Charles the Bald (840–864), court mint. Courtesy of the American Numismatic Society, New York. Obv.: +CARLVS REX, cross. Rev.: +PALATINA MONETA, Charles’s