Charles had a commanding, and yet winning presence. His physique betrayed the greatness
of his mind. He was tall, strongly built and well proportioned. His height was seven times the length
of his foot. He had large and animated eyes, a long nose, a cheerful countenance and an abundance
of fine hair. "His appearance," says Eginhard, "was always stately and dignified, whether he was
standing or sitting; although his neck was thick and somewhat short, and his belly rather prominent;
but the symmetry of the rest of his body concealed these defects. His gait was firm, his whole
carriage manly, and his voice clear, but not so strong as his size led one to expect."^243
He was naturally eloquent, and spoke with great clearness and force. He was simple in his
attire, and temperate in eating and drinking; for, says Eginhard, "he abominated drunkenness in
anybody, much more in himself and those of his household. He rarely gave entertainments, only
on great feast days, and these to large numbers of people." He was fond of muscular exercise,
especially of hunting and swimming, and enjoyed robust health till the last four years of his life,
when he was subject to frequent fevers. During his meals he had extracts from Augustine’s "City
of God" (his favorite book), and stories of olden times, read to him. He frequently gave audience
while dressing, without sacrifice of royal dignity. He was kind to the poor, and a liberal almsgiver.
His Zeal for Education.
His greatest merit is his zeal for education and religion. He was familiar with Latin from
conversation rather than books, be understood a little Greek, and in his old age he began to learn
the art of writing which his hand accustomed to the sword had neglected. He highly esteemed his
native language, caused a German grammar to be compiled, and gave German names to the winds
and to the months.^244 He collected the ancient heroic songs of the German minstrels. He took
measures to correct the Latin Version of the Scriptures, and was interested in theological questions.
He delighted in cultivated society. He gathered around him divines, scholars, poets, historians,
mostly Anglo-Saxons, among whom Alcuin was the chief. He founded the palace school and other
schools in the convents, and visited them in person. The legend makes him the founder of the
University of Paris, which is of a much later date. One of his laws enjoins general education upon
all male children.
His Piety.
Charles was a firm believer in Christianity and a devout and regular worshipper in the
church, "going morning and evening, even after nightfall, besides attending mass." He was very
liberal to the clergy. He gave them tithes throughout the empire appointed worthy bishops and
abbots, endowed churches and built a splendid cathedral at Aix-la-Chapelle, in which he was buried.
His respect for the clergy culminated in his veneration for the bishop of Rome as the
successor of St. Peter. "He cherished the church of St. Peter the apostle at Rome above all other
holy and sacred places, and filled its treasury with a vast wealth of gold, silver, and precious stones.
He sent great and countless gifts to the popes; and throughout his whole reign the wish he had
nearest at heart was to re-establish the ancient authority of the city of Rome under his care and by
his influence, and to defend and protect the church of St. Peter, and to beautify and enrich it out of
his own store above all other churches."^245
His Vices.
(^243) The magnificent portrait of Charles by Albrecht Dürer is a fancy picture, and not sustained by the oldest representations.
Vétault gives several portraits, and discusses them, p. 540.
(^244) Wintermonat for January, Hornung for February, Lenz for March, Ostermonat for April, etc. See Eginhard, ch. 29.
(^245) Eginhard, ch. 27.