PART 122: It might be interesting to share how we pulled off living in Italy for part of the year. I will post some steps we are taking and what we are learning along the way.
We love every minute of it, and what was once a dream is our life!
We live in Tuscany in the Fall and spring, then back again in the Fall, and in California the rest of the time (in a previous blog, I explained why we live in Italy only part of the year).
Step 1: As we explore areas in Italy, we discover some gems worth sharing. Some of these are well-known tourist magnets; others are lesser known but always amazing.
This week, let's explore Charlemagne in Tuscany.
Step 2: Some history. Who was Charlemagne?
For those of us who struggle to remember the history of Charlemagne from our Western Civ class in college, here's a summary.
Charlemagne was a powerful ruler who held significant influence over a large part of Western Europe from 768 to 814. In 771, he became the King of the Franks, a Germanic tribe that lived in present-day Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and western Germany. Charlemagne was known for his military prowess and engaged in numerous battles and wars during his reign, which allowed him to expand his empire's reach.
In 800, Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne the Holy Roman Emperor, elevating his status to become one of the most influential leaders of his time. As an emperor, Charlemagne played a crucial role in the Carolingian Renaissance, a period of cultural and intellectual revival in Europe. He supported the arts and sciences and promoted education and literacy throughout his empire, laying the groundwork for the development of modern Europe.
By his death in 814, Charlemagne's empire had expanded to cover much of Western Europe. His reign is often called the "Carolingian Empire," he is sometimes called the father of Europe due to his significant impact on the continent's history. Charlemagne's legacy continues today, and his contributions to the arts, education, and governance remain influential.
Step 3: Charlemagne and Tuscany: Sant'Antimo
In a separate blog post, I discuss Charlemagne's connection to Montalcino, but I'll provide a brief summary here.
Legend has it that Charlemagne established the abbey of Sant'Antimo after he and his army suffered from the plague while on Monte Amiata. Charlemagne prayed for healing, which was granted. To express his gratitude for this miracle, he had Sant'Antimo built.
The original core of the abbey was constructed when the relics of Sant'Antimo of Arezzo, a martyr who died in 352 A.D., were installed.
This initial section was built on the remains of a Roman villa, which was believed to have had a healing water fountain, as indicated by an inscription on a piece of stone that reads "Venite et bibite" (come and drink).
While returning from Rome in 781, Charlemagne stopped at Sant'Antimo along the Via Francigena. He left his seal on the monastery's foundation, which was still under construction.
In 814, a decree from Louis the Pious, Charlemagne's son and successor, bestowed numerous gifts and privileges upon the abbey, officially elevating Sant'Antimo to an imperial abbey and ushering it into its full glory.
Today, the abbey is home to a small community of sisters from Mexico and is utilized for religious services as well as for tours and hiking in the surrounding area.
If you walk around the church and head towards the abbey pharmacy, you may glimpse the original Carolingian chapel if the door happens to be open. The chapel is located beneath the floor of the current abbey church.
Step 4: Charlemagne takes over Tuscany (conquering the Lombard territories)
Before Charlemagne:
During the Middle Ages, Tuscany was ruled by various groups, including the Germans under Odoacer, the Ostrogoths, the Eastern Empire through Narses, and the Lombards following the Fall of the Roman Empire.
In 773, Charlemagne, the King of the Franks, invaded the Kingdom of the Lombards, which included all of Italy except for the Duchy of Rome, the Republic of Venice, and the Byzantine possessions in the south. By June 774, the Lombard kingdom had collapsed, and the Franks became the rulers of northern Italy.
Charlemagne declared himself the King of the Lombards and was crowned emperor in Rome in 800. As a result, Tuscany became a part of the Frankish Empire during Charlemagne's reign.
The Carolingian dynasty continued to rule over Italy until Charles the Fat was deposed in 887, and the dynasty briefly regained the throne in 894-896.
Step 5: Traces of Charlemagne
Via Francigena
The Via Francigena is a historic 2,000-kilometer pilgrimage route from Canterbury to Rome, also known as "the way of the Franks." It follows the path Sigeric, the Archbishop of Canterbury, took in AD 990 on his return journey from Rome after receiving his cloak of office, or pallium, from Pope John XV. The route gained popularity during the Carolingian era after the unification of a significant part of the north of the Italian peninsula under the Holy Roman Empire of Charlemagne. During this time, going on a pilgrimage became an important and widespread practice.
San Miniato in Florence
During the Carolingian Period in the 8th century, the Holy Roman Empire established a feudal system and designated Florence as a county. According to tradition from the earliest Florentine chronicles, Emperor Charlemagne visited Florence and contributed money and houses for the rebuilding of the original church of San Miniato in memory of his beloved bride Hildegard, who passed away at the age of 26.
Siena
In the 8th century, Siena began to take shape after being conquered by Charlemagne. The Frankish lords who took over the city married into the existing Sienese nobility and established abbeys that still exist today. One of these abbeys is the Abbey of Sant'Antimo.
Step 6: Sources and more information links.
Insights: Exploring the history of the area where we are settling down gives us a sense of appreciation and belonging to a rich and ongoing history. When we visit Sant'Antimo or other places associated with Charlemagne, the hours I spent in my Western Civilization class start to make sense and become relevant.
More next time.
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