obstinacy, the latter compelled to abandon the cause of Adalgise and Lombard liberty for ever. These submissions were favourable to the fortunes of the monarch, whose army was just then visited by a desolating epidemic, and whose domestic peace was interrupted by the paricidal designs of his eldest son, Pepin. The conspiracy of this unnatural child against his father was discovered by a friar, who had accidentally fallen asleep in the church where the conspirators assembled, and, awaking while they were deliberating on the murder of the king, overheard their traitorous communications. Charles was summoned from his bed, to learn the guilt of his ungrateful son; but the course of justice was diverted by the feelings of a father, and Pepin was permitted to expiate his crime by a life of religious repentance.

The Saxons, Huns, and Moors continued at intervals to disturb the tranquillity of the empire; but the vigorous measures of Charles repressed the former, and the gallantry of Alonso the Chaste, king of Leon, kept the Moors in submission. Charles meditated an entire conquest over the haughty Moors, and began by humbling the Balearic islands, for the purpose of placing there a controlling force; but from this design he was called away by the tumults that prevailed at Rome. On the death of Adrian, the apostolic chair became the object of his nephew's ambition; but the conclave elected Leo III., a priest of the Lateran. During four years the disappointed candidate maintained a secret desire of vengeance; and at length, availing himself of the opportunity afforded by a procession, accompanied by a furious band of conspirators, he rushed on his victim, and laid him prostrate, and lifeless, as it was then imagined, on the ground. By some accident or other, Leo did not undergo the last sad change, but, escaping the assassin's dagger, fled to the Vatican, where he was protected by the duke of Spoleto and the French forces, and, hastening thence to the court of Charles at Paderborn, obtained from him a numerous escort, to conduct him back to Rome in triumph and security.

Charles would probably have accompanied the pope to Italy, had not the depredations then daily committed by the northmen, on his maritime possessions, demanded his serious attention. To counteract, so far as was then practicable, the effect of their appearance off the coasts of central Europe, he built forts at the mouths of the navigable rivers, and stationed strong garrisons in all those cities which were connected directly with the seas. These precautions being taken, he set out for Rome, resolved to visit the eternal city, and receive the public denial, by Leo, of all the crimes and sins which his enemies imputed to him.

It was on the festival of Christmas, in the year 800, that Charlemagne appeared in the cathedral of St. Peter's, at Rome, and after having decorously assisted at the mass, that the pope, suddenly rising, approached, and placed a precious crown on his head, pronouncing at the same time these memorable words-" Long life to Charles the August, crowned by the hand of God! Long life and victory to the great and pacific Emperor of the Romans." He was then duly consecrated with the royal unction, and being conducted to a throne prepared for the occasion, was paid those marks of reverence which had been only claimed by the ancient Cæsars.

Amongst the ambassadors of foreign powers, that offered congratulations to the newly-crowned emperor, were those of the caliph Haroun-Al-Rashid. This politic prince ceded to the Christian Cæsar the sacred city of Jerusalem and the holy sepulchre of our Lord. A less solemn event, but not less important to temporal interests, occurred at this time-it was a negociation between Irène, the empress of the East, and the conqueror of western Europe. Odious to her subjects on account of the murder of her son, this intriguing princess sought the alliance and protection of Charlemagne, and, as an evidence of sincerity, made a proposition of marriage. Flattered by what he considered homage, not only to his august rank but his personal graces, of which he was inordinately vain, he despatched two ambassadors to the Byzantine court, to bring the negociation to a close; but, before their arrival, the nuptials of the empress with Nicephorus had actually been celebrated. Whatever result Charlemagne had calculated upon in entertaining the proposal of the empress, its frustration produced no serious interruption to his great political projects, especially when it was announced, that Nicephorus readily ceded to him the dignity of Augustus, and solicited at his hands a settlement of the boundaries of their respective empires.

Diplomacy alone was requisite in the transactions that had just engaged the emperor's attention; military skill and determined resistance were indisputably necessary to the events that immediately succeeded. Godfrey, an adventurous chief of the Normans, whose enterprising spirit was destined at no distant period to shake the empire of the Franks to its centre, now menaced with his rude armies the peace of the western world. At first negotiation was successful, the Normans promising to spare the territories of the Franks in their piratical expeditions, and the latter engaging to respect their neighbour's boundaries. This peace, on terms of mutual advantage, allowed some few days of rest to the shattered constitution of the heroic, politic, but most unchaste monarch, during which he called an assembly at Thionville, and there publicly settled the partition of his dominions. To his son Lewis he assigned Aquitaine, Gascogny, and the Spanish march; his possessions in Italy he confirmed to Pepin, adding to them the best part of Bavaria, and territories now occupied by the Grisons. His eldest son, Charles, was named successor to the powerful kingdoms of Neustria, Austrasia, and Thuringia; and, having publicly subscribed these great donations, he rendered the ceremony more authentic, in the estimation of a superstitious people, by obtaining for it the sanction of the Roman pontiff.

The same year, in which the sons of Charlemagne were elevated to thrones, witnessed also their summons to defend themselves against aggression. Lewis and Pepin triumphed over the infidels, whom they completely expelled from Corsica and Catalonia; while the turbulent Sclavonians, who wasted Bohemia, were crushed by the ability and power of Charles. The martial achievements of his sons delighted the declining years of the venerable Charlemagne, and led him to indulge a hope that the lustre of his race would be both brilliant and long-lived. These flattering prospects, however, were soon after clouded by the reappearance of the Normans, for, already had the terror of the Scandinavian name extended from the Baltic to the British Channel. Although

bowed down both with years and infirmities, the voice of ambition could not be choked, and the aged monarch desired his ambassadors to tell the haughty Godfrey he would settle their dispute on the Norman frontier. But this menace only steeled the adventurer's sword, and he instantly retorted, that he would save the venerable man the trouble by meeting him at the gates of Aix-la-Chapelle. The threatened conflict was for that time averted by the wily stratagems of Charlemagne, who contrived to foment dissension amongst the allied powers; but, when these were partially allayed, the Scandinavians resumed their propensity for roving, and a numerous squadron of these hardy adventurers, commanded by Godfrey in person, cast anchor, shortly afterwards, on the coast of Friezland.

Undisciplined courage, inexperienced officers, and unequal numbers, were in vain opposed to hardy veterans, whose fortune depended on their military achievements, and who sought new honours in foreign lands by that title only which conquest gives. The Franks and the Frisons were therefore incapable of offering a successful resistance to the invaders, and had not Charlemagne advanced to their aid with powerful reinforcements, the invaded province would have fallen a prey to these formidable adventurers. While both armies were drawn out in line of battle, and the signal for onslaught alone was wanting, Charlemagne was surprised to observe a deliberate retrograde movement on the part of his enemy, and not caring to check or interfere with their mysterious conduct, determined on awaiting an explanation in the position he had taken. It is not improbable, however, that he was better informed of the cause than he ever after acknowledged; certain it is that the emperor was delivered from a most powerful antagonist by treachery, for, the retreat of the Normans was occasioned by the infamous assassination of their gallant leader, Godfrey. Less warlike than his father, and not imputing the death of that brave man to the machinations of his enemies, Godfrey's son solicited an alliance with the emperor of the west. Charlemagne was but too happy to embrace the opportunity of closing a contest, the issue of which was evidently doubtful, on terms so honourable to his fame and satisfactory to his followers.

But the pleasure derived from this happy conclusion of a threatened calamity, was imbittered by the unexpected death of the emperor's favourite daughter, Betrude; nor was this the only fatal visitation in the imperial family, Pepin, king of Italy, dying very shortly after his lamented sister. The Italian sceptre was speedily committed to the feebler hand of Pepin, an infant and illegitimate son; and after the lapse of a few months more, Charlemagne was beheld weeping over the tomb of his eldest son, Charles.

The increasing weight of public cares, accumulating years, and augmented infirmities, suggested the necessity of retirement or assistance, and, preferring the latter, he associated his son Lewis in the executive. One month only had elapsed from the date of Lewis's elevation and solemn coronation as coadjutor of the emperor, at Aix-laChapelle, when Charlemagne was attacked by a fever, which seized so tenaciously on its victim, that hopes of recovery were at once abandoned. Looking with firmness on his approaching dissolution, he recommended his successor to consider solely the hap

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piness of his subjects, and uttering the words, " Into thy hands, Lord, I commend my spirit," immediately expired. He had just concluded the seventy-first year of his age, and forty-seventh of his reign; and his death is placed, by the most accurate historians, in the year of our Lord eight hundred and fourteen.

The remains of this celebrated man were entombed at Aix-la-Chapelle, his favourite place of residence. They were deposited in a vault, where he was placed on a throne of gold, in full imperial costume. On his head he wore a crown; in his hand he held a chalice; at his side was the sword of state; on his knee lay the book of the evangelists; at his feet his shield and sceptre. The sepulchre was sealed, and over it was erected a triumphal arch, inscribed with these words-" Here lies the body of Charles, the great and orthodox emperor, who gloriously enlarged, and for forty-seven years happily governed, the empire of the Franks."

Charlemagne was a friend of learning, and deserves the title of restorer of the sciences and teacher of his people. He attracted by his liberality the most distinguished scholars to his court; among others, Alcuin, from England, whom he chose for his own instructor; Peter of Pisa, who received the title of his grammarian; and Paul Warnefri, better known in the world of letters as Paul Diaconus, who gave the emperor instruction in Greek and Latin literature. By Alcuin's advice, Charlemagne established an academy in his palace at Aix-la-Chapelle, the sessions of which he attended, with all the scientific and literary men of his court-Leidrades, Theodulphus, the Archbishops of Treves and Mentz, and the Abbot of Corvey. All the members of this academy assumed names characteristic of their talents or inclinations. One was called Damætas, another Homer, a third Candidus; Charlemagne himself took the name of David. From Italy he brought professors of languages and mathematics, and established them in the principal cities of his empire. In the cathedrals and monasteries he founded schools of theology and the liberal sciences. He strove assiduously to cultivate his mind by intercourse with scholars, and, to the time of his death, this intercourse remained his chief recreation. He spoke several languages fluently, especially Latin. He was less successful in writing, because he had not applied himself to that branch of his education till he was farther advanced in years. In the winter he read much, and even caused an attendant to read to him while he sat at meals. He endeavoured to improve the liturgy and church music. He was desirous of introducing the Roman liturgy into his states, but the clergy, who clung to the ancient usages, offered too strenuous a resistance. Some churches, however, acceded to the monarch's wishes, and others mingled the Roman and Gallican liturgies. He attempted to establish uniformity of weights and measures, in the purchase and sale of merchandise.

One of Charlemagne's most gigantic projects was the union of the Rhine with the Danube, and, consequently, the Atlantic with the Black sea, by means of a canal. His whole army was employed in the work, but its accomplishment was prevented by want of that knowledge in hydraulic architecture which has been since acquired. The arts, however, under his patronage, produced other monuments of his fame. The city of Aix-la-Chapelle received its name from a splendid chapel, which he caused to be built

of the most beautiful Italian marble. The doors of this temple were of bronze, and its dome bore a globe of massive gold. The imperial palace was also built in the highest style of splendour. Here he constructed public tepid baths, in which more than one hundred persons could swim at the same time without inconvenience. He was himself fond of that exercise, and frequently used these baths, with all the nobles of his court, and even with his soldiers. At Selts, in Alsace, he had another palace, little less magnificent than that at Aix.

To Charlemagne France is indebted for its advances in navigation. He built the lighthouse at Boulogne, and constructed several ports for the protection of shipping, and the promotion of foreign trade. He encouraged agriculture, and made himself immortal by the wisdom of his legislative enactments. His law de Villis is esteemed a monument of his views on rural economy: and Menzal, in his history of the Germans, writes of him"The greatest praise is, that he prevented the total decline of the sciences in the West, and supplied new aliment to their expiring light-that he considered the improvement of nations as important as their union and subjugation. This love of intellectual improvement is the more laudable in a prince whose youth was spent in military exercises and the chase, and his whole after-life in the whirlpool of war; at a time, too, before the charm of beautiful models had made intellectual occupation an enjoyment, but when literature and science, appearing in heavy forms, destitute of grace, deterred rather than invited. His fame filled the East. He received ambassadors from the Patriarch of Jerusalem, from the Emperors Nicephorus and Michael, and was twice complimented with embassies from Haroun al Raschid, the famous caliph of Bagdad; all which he received with a splendour unexampled even in the East. He convened councils and parliaments, published capitularies, wrote many state-letters, (some of which are still extant,) a grammar, and numerous Latin poems. His empire comprehended France, most of Catalonia, Navarre, and Arragon; the Netherlands, Germany as far as the Elbe, Saale, and Eyder, Upper and Middle Italy, Istria, and a part of Sclavonia. In private life Charlemagne was exceedingly amiable: a good father, and a generous friend. His domestic economy afforded a model of frugality; his person a rare example of simplicity and greatness. He despised extravagance of dress in men, though, on solemn occasions, he appeared in all the splendour of majesty. His table was remarkably frugal: his only error was a slavish devotion to the softer sex. In stature he was tall and robust; his height, says Eginhard, exactly seven times the length of his foot. His head was round, his eye large and lustrous, his nose beyond the regular proportions, and his whole countenance possessing an agreeable expression of serenity. His step was firm, and his bearing manly. He enjoyed uninterrupted good health until the last four years of his life, when he became subject to intermittent fever, and infirm on his legs. In summer he used to repose for two hours after dinner, for which purpose he always undressed; but, at night he slept uneasily. He wore the costume of his country close to his person a linen shirt, over which was a coat with a silk border, and long trousers. For his outer dress he wore a cloak, and always his sword, the hilt and belt of which were of gold and silver. He possessed a natural impressive eloquence,