Aachen
Charlemagne’s chief residence in his later years. The reform capitulary of 789 was issued from its palace, and the emperor built there the church in which he was buried in 814.
The edict that accompanied the General Admonition of 789 is dated at the public palace of Aachen (Admonitio generalis date clause of the accompanying edict (p. 62)). Einhard says that Charlemagne built a basilica there, dedicated to the Mother of God, with columns and marbles brought from Rome and Ravenna, and worshipped in it morning and evening (Einhard, Life of Charlemagne 26) (Einhard, Life of Charlemagne 30–31). He died at Aachen and was buried in that church (Einhard, Life of Charlemagne 30–31).
What happened here
- AD 789, firm dateCharlemagne’s Reform of Church and Learning
In the General Admonition of 789 Charlemagne orders the clergy of his kingdom to keep the canons, preach the faith, sing the Roman chant, open schools and copy books correctly. With Alcuin and other scholars he has the text of the Bible revised.
Primary sources
Life of Charlemagne (Vita Karoli Magni)
- Einhard, Life of Charlemagne 26sourcebooks.fordham.edu
- Einhard, Life of Charlemagne 30–31sourcebooks.fordham.edu