The audience of Life of Charlemagne is the constituents of the kingdom he once ruled. Einhard could not just say that Charlemagne is the “most splendid and greatest of all men,” he needed to prove it (136). Einhard strategically uses unflattering honesty to build his credibility as well as justifying Charlemagne’s shortcomings in order to prove that he was a great leader. Einhard understands that it will be harder to make the audience believe that Charlemagne was as wonderful as he claims because Charlemagne’s father deposed the former king who was a part of the long reigning Merovingian Dynasty (136-7). Throughout all of sections one, two, and three, Einhard intentionally reiterates this to show that he is remembers what happened, but that …show more content…
However, that is not the case with the Carolingians and Einhard emphasizes this, especially in his military career. Einhard shares how Carloman, Charlemagne’s brother, betrays him during the war “against Aquitaine,” and the reason he does this is to show how Charlemagne rose above and won the war anyway (138). Einhard realizes that this family is far from a perfect dynasty, but that did not affect Charlemagne’s ability to take control and be a good leader. In addition to his brother bringing trouble to Charlemagne’s court, his son, “Pepin [the hunchback] pretended to be sick and entered the conspiracy against his father” (142-3). The way Einhard brings this up is genius because he says that he was going to keep it a secret, but then reveal his rebellious son’s treason. He sets it up this way to show just how honest he is willing to be to prove that Charlemagne was the best. Einhard even reveals that Pepin “was born to him by concubine” (142). He gets brutally honest Charlemagne’s bastard son’s betrayal, which sets him up to share Charlemagne’s merciful side. Instead of killing or arresting his son, he was “tonsured and allowed to pursue the religious life” (143). Another issue within Charlemagne’s family that Einhard sheds new light on is his daughters. Einhard admits that is “strange to have to report that he never wanted to give …show more content…
In the midst of complimenting Charlemagne’s looks he also states that “his neck seemed short and thick and his stomach seemed to stick out” (143). Einhard goes so far with his honesty that it almost becomes unnecessary, but it is not because Einhard will stop at no lengths to show the audience that he is honest in order to prove that Charlemagne was truly