The Representation of Sacred Royalty in the codices of Charles the Bald and the Furtherance of Romanness in the Late Carolingian Age

A key insight from this study is the identification of John Scottus Eriugena as the likely author of verses in the Bible of San Paolo fuori le Mura, a significant liturgical codex dedicated to King Charles the Bald. This finding underscores Eriugena's role in enriching the theme of sacred royalty with philosophical and cosmological elements, thereby strengthening Charles' candidacy for the imperial crown during the late Carolingian period. The research employs a detailed analysis of visual and verbal rhetoric within these codices, highlighting how they were used to promote 'Romanness' and sacred royalty. Notably, the gift of the San Paolo Bible to the pope, possibly during Charles' coronation in 875, successfully embedded this rhetorical strategy into the heart of Rome, reinforcing its cultural and historical significance.

Mainoldi, E. S. (2021). The Representation of Sacred Royalty in the codices of Charles the Bald and the Furtherance of Romanness in the Late Carolingian Age. Rome on the Borders. Visual Cultures during the Carolingian Transition, 50–69. https://doi.org/10.1484/m.convisup-eb.5.130984