Rulers at the End of the Times Karl the Great and his Policy in the Context of contemporary apocalyptic Concepts and Interpretations

This paper contributes to the studies published in connection with the 1200th anniversary of the death of Charlemagne by investigating the question whether apocalyptic hopes and expectations arose in connection with eschatological fears during the reign of the Frankish king. Hund examines four aspects of the religious policy and the power politics of Charlemagne after a brief clarification of what is meant by the terms "apocalypse," "apocalyptic" and "eschatology". This essay demonstrates that the Carolingian renewal of education was also influenced by apocalyptic ideas since the repudiation of heresies was understood as an eschatological battle for truth. The conversion of the Saxons was regarded as an effort to produce eschatological peace as Charlemagne's crowning was the climax of eschatological hopes and expectations. Hund therefore shows the necessity of dating the historical impact of eschatology two hundred years earlier than its usual placement in the year 1000.