The ambiguity of charlemagne in late metheval German literature: The deconstruction and reconstruction of a mythical figure

Much research has been done on the figure of the Carolingian emperor Charlemagne, who has certainly left an indelible mark on posterity. This study focuses on the reception history in late metheval German and Italian/Latin literature, including some references to artworks mirroring Charlemagne. Drawing on theoretical reflections on the universal process of mythmaking (Cassirer, Weber), we can recognize how much the historical figure of this mighty ruler became idealized and transmogrified throughout time and, in its charismatic function, could serve many different functions for the various writers and artists, such as Petrarch, Hans Waltheym, Elisabedi von Nassau-Saarbrucken, Hans Schondoch, Albrecht Dürer, and Hans Sachs.