em the rule of St. Bennet, appears from his
transactions, and several ecclesiastical assemblies in 789. His zeal for
the devout observance of the rites of the church is expressed in his
book to Alcuin on that subject, and in his encyclical epistle on the
rites of baptism,[2] and in various works which he commissioned Alcuin
and others to compile. For the reformation of manners, especially of the
clergy, he procured many synods to be held, in which decrees were
framed, which are called his Capitula.[3] His Capitulars, divided into
many chapters, are of the same nature. The best edition of these
Capitulars is given by Baluzius, with dissertations, in 1677, two vols.
folio. The Carolin Books are a theological work, (adopted by this
prince, who speaks in the first person,) compiled in four books, against
a falsified copy of the second council of Nice, sent by certain
Iconoclasts from Constantinople, on which see F. Daniel[4] and
Ceillier.[5]

There never was a truly great man, who was not a lover and encourager of
learning, as of the highest improvement of the human mind. Charlemagne,
by most munificent largesses, invited learned men over from foreign
parts, as Alcuin, Peter of Pisa, Paul the deacon, &c., found no greater
pleasure than in conversing with them, instituted an academy in his own
palace, and great schools at Paris, Tours, &c., assisted at literary
disputations, was an excellent historian, and had St. Austin's book, On
the City of God, laid every night under his pillow to read if he awaked.
Yet Eginhard assures us that whatever pains he took, he could never
learn to write, because he was old when he first applied himself to it.
He was skilled in astronomy, arithmetic, music, and every branch of the
mathematics; understood the Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Syriac, also the
Sclavonian, and several other living languages, so as never to want an
interpreter to converse with ambassadors of neighboring nations. He
meditated assiduously on the scriptures, assisted at the divine office,
even that of midnight, if possible; had good books read to him at table,
and took but one meal a day, which he was obliged to anticipate before
the hour of evening on fasting days, that all his officers and servants
might dine before midnight. He was very abstemious, had a paternal care
of the poor in all his dominions, and honored good men, especially among
the clergy. Charlemagne died January the 28th, in 814, seventy-two years
old, and wa