The Palace of Aachen was a group of buildings with residential, political, and religious purposes chosen by Charlemagne to be the center of power of the Carolingian Empire. The palace was located in the heart of the current city of Aachen, today in the German Land (or state) of North Rhine-Westphalia. Most of the Carolingian palace was built in the 790s but the works went on until Charlemagne's death in 814. The plans, drawn by Odo of Metz, were part of the program of renovation of the kingdom decided by the ruler. The Palatine Chapel that was part of the palace complex has been preserved and is considered a masterpiece of Carolingian architecture and a characteristic example of architecture from the Carolingian Renaissance. Also, the foundations and lower walls of the Aula Regia (council hall) are preserved in the current town hall as are the first three stories of its square tower (so-called Granus Tower).
Historical context The palace before Charlemagne
In ancient times, the Romans chose the site of Aachen for its thermal springs and its forward position towards Germania. The site, called Aquae Granni, was equipped with A. Erlande-Brandeburg, A.-B. Erlande-Brandeburg, Histoire de l’architecture française, 1999, p. 104 of thermae that remained in use from the 1st to the 4th century.J. Favier, Charlemagne, 1999, p. 285 The Roman city grew in connection with the thermae according to a classical grid plan similar to that of Roman legionary camps. A palace was used to accommodate the governor of the province or the Emperor.Andreas Schaub, City of Aachen, Antenne AC (2024) In the 4th century, the city and the palace were destroyed during the Barbarian invasions. Clovis made Paris the capital of the Frankish Kingdom, and Aachen Palace was abandoned until the advent of the Carolingian dynasty. The Pippinid Mayors of the Palace carried out some restoration works, but it was at the time only one residence among others. The Frankish court was itinerant and the rulers moved according to the circumstances. Around 765, Pepin the Short had a palace erected over the remains of the old Roman building; he had the thermae restored and removed its pagan idols.P. Riché, La vie quotidienne dans l’Empire Carolingian, p. 57Michael Wiederstein: page 6, 2007 As soon as he came to power in 768, Charlemagne spent time in Aachen as well as in other villas in Austrasia. In the 790s, he decided to settle down in order to govern first his kingdom, then his empire, more efficiently.
The choice of Aachen The site of Aachen was chosen by Charlemagne after careful consideration in a key moment of his reign.A. Erlande-Brandeburg, A.-B. Erlande-Brandeburg, Histoire de l’architecture française, 1999, p. 92 Since his advent as King of the Franks, Charlemagne had led numerous military expeditions that had both filled his treasury and enlarged his realm, most notably towards the East. He conquered pagan Saxony in 772–780, but this area resisted and the war with the Saxons lasted for about thirty years. Charlemagne ended the Germanic custom of an itinerant court moving from place to place and established a permanent capital. As he was ageing, he decreased the frequency of military expeditions and, after 806, virtually did not leave Aachen.J. Favier, Charlemagne, 1999, p. 582
Aachen's geographic location was a decisive factor in Charlemagne's choice: the site was situated in the Carolingian heartlands of Austrasia, the cradle of his family, East of the Meuse river, at a crossroads of land roads and on a tributary of the Rur, called the Wurm. From then, Charlemagne left the administration of the Southern regions to his son Louis, named King of Aquitaine,J. Favier, Charlemagne, 1999, p. 287 which enabled him to reside in the North.
Besides, settling down in Aachen enabled Charlemagne to control the operations in Saxony from a closer position.A. Erlande-Brandeburg, A.-B. Erlande-Brandeburg, Histoire de l’architecture française, 1999, pp. 92–93 Charlemagne also considered other advantages of the place: surrounded with forest abounding in game, he intended to abandon himself to hunting in the area.G. Démians d’Archimbaud, Histoire artistique de l’Occident médiéval, 1992, p. 76 The ageing emperor could also benefit from Aachen's hot springs.
The scholars of the Carolingian era presented Charlemagne as the "New Constantine"; in this context, he needed a capital and a palace worthy of the name.P. Riché, Les Carolingiens. Une famille qui fit l’Europe, 1983, p. 326M. Durliat, Des barbares à l’an Mil, 1985, p. 145 He left Rome to the Pope. The rivalry with the Byzantine Empire led Charlemagne to build a magnificent palace. The fire that destroyed his palace in Worms in 793J. Favier, Charlemagne, 1999, p. 288 also encouraged him to follow such a plan.
Importance of the project entrusted to Odo of Metz
Historians know almost nothing about the architect of the Palace of Aachen, Odo of Metz. His name appears in the works of Eginhard (c. 775–840), Charlemagne's biographer. He is supposed to have been an educated cleric, familiar with liberal arts, especially quadrivia. He had probably read Vitruvius' treatise on architecture, De Architectura.J. Favier, Charlemagne, 1999, p. 502
The decision to build the palace was taken in the late 780s or the early 790s, before Charlemagne held the title of emperor. Works began in 794Christian Bonnet (dir.), Les sociétés en Europe (milieu du VIe siècle – fin du IXe siècle), Paris, Ellipses, 2002, , p. 184 and went on for several years. Aachen quickly became the favourite residence of the sovereign. After 807, he almost did not leave it any more. In the absence of sufficient documentation, it is impossible to know the number of workers employed, but the dimensions of the building make it probable that there were many of them.
The geometry of the plan chosen was very simple: Odo of Metz decided to keep the layout of the Roman roads and inscribe the square in 360 Carolingian feet, or 120 metres-side square.A Carolingian foot corresponds to 0,333 metresA. Erlande-Brandeburg, A.-B. Erlande-Brandeburg, Histoire de l’architecture française, 1999, p. 103 The square enclosed an area of 50 acresP. Riché, Les Carolingiens …, 1983, p. 325 divided in four parts by a North-South axis (the stone gallery) and an East-West axis (the former Roman road, the decumanus). To the north of this square lay the council hall, to the south the Palatine Chapel. The architect drew a triangle toward the East to connect the thermae to the palace complex. The two best-known buildings are the council hall (today disappeared) and the Palatine Chapel, included into the Cathedral. The other buildings are hardly identified.Régine Le Jan, La société du Haut Moyen Âge, VIe – IXe siècle, Paris, Armand Colin, 2003, , p. 120 Often built in timber framing, made of wood and brick, they have been destroyed. Lastly, the palace complex was surrounded with a wall.P. Riché, La vie quotidienne dans l’Empire carolingien, p. 58
The arrival of the court in Aachen and the construction work stimulated the activity in the city that experienced growth in the late 8th century and the early 9th century, as craftsmen, traders and shopkeepers had settled near the court. Some important ones lived in houses inside the city. The members of the Palace Academy and Charlemagne's advisors such as Eginhard and Angilbert owned houses near the palace.
Council Hall
Located at the north of the Palace complex, the great Council Hall (aula regia in Latin) was the venue for the Emperor's annual speech. The highest dignitaries in the Carolingian Empire gathered for this occasion: officials, counts and other feudal vassals of the emperor, and bishops and abbots. This general assembly was usually held in May. Participants discussed important political and legal affairs. Capitularies, written by amanuenses of the Aachen chancellery, summed up the decisions taken. Official ceremonies and the reception of embassies also took place in this building. Describing the coronation of Louis, son of Charlemagne, Ermold the Black wrote that Charlemagne "spoke down from his golden seat" in the Council Hall.Ermold le Noir, Poème sur Louis le Pieux et épîtres au roi Pépin, édité et traduit par Edmond Faral, Paris, Les Belles Lettres, 1964, p. 53
The size of the hall (1,000 m2) was suitable to the reception of several hundred people at the same time:P. Riché, Les Carolingiens. Une famille qui fit l’Europe, 1983, p. 131 although the building has been destroyed, it is known it was 47.42 metres long, 20.76 metres large and 21 metres high. The plan seems to be based upon the Roman Aula Palatina of Trier. The structure was made of brick, and the shape was that of a civil basilica with three apses: the largest one (17.2 m), located to the west, was dedicated to the king and his suite. The two other apses, to the north and south, were smaller. Light entered through two rows of windows. The inside was probably decorated with paintings depicting heroes both ancient and contemporary. A wooden gallery girdled the building between the two rows of windows. The market north of the Palace could be seen from this gallery. A gallery with porticos on the southern side of the hall gave access to the building. The southern apse cut through the middle of this entrance.
Palatine Chapel
Description
The Palatine Chapel was located at the other side of the palace complex, at the South. A stone gallery linked it to the aula regia. It symbolized another aspect of Charlemagne's power, religious power. Legend has it that the building was consecrated in 805 by Pope Leo III, in honour of the Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ.
Several buildings used by the clerics of the chapel were arranged in the shape of a latin cross: a curia in the East, offices in the North and South, and a projecting part (WestbauA porch surrounded with two stair towers, la forerunner of Westworks) and an atrium with exedrae in the West. But the center piece was the chapel, covered with a 16,54 meters wide and 31 meters high octagonal cupola.Collectif, Le grand atlas de l’architecture mondiale, Encyclopædia Universalis, 1982, , p. 1888J. Favier, Charlemagne, 1999, p. 505 Eight massive pillars receive the thrust of large arcades. The nave on the first floor, located under the cupola, is surrounded by an aisle; here stood the Palace servants.G. Démians d’Archimbaud, Histoire artistique de l’Occident médiéval, 1992, p. 81
The two additional floors (tribunes) open on the central space through semicircular arches supported by columns. The inner side takes the shape of an octagon whereas the outer side develops into a sixteen-sided polygon. The chapel had two choirs located in the East and West. The king sat on a throne made of white marble plates, in the West of the second floor, surrounded by his closer courtiers. Thus he had a view on the three altars: that of the Savior right in front of him, that of the Virgin Mary on the first floor and that of Saint Peter in the far end of the Western choir.
Charlemagne wanted his chapel to be magnificently decorated, so he had massive bronze doors made in a foundry near Aachen. The walls were covered with marble and polychrome stone.A. Erlande-Brandeburg, A.-B. Erlande-Brandeburg, Histoire de l’architecture française, 1999, p. 127 The columns, still visible today, were taken from buildings in Ravenna and Rome, with the Pope's permission.
The walls and cupola were covered with mosaic, enhanced by both artificial lights and exterior light coming in through the windows. Eginhard provides a description of the inside in his Life of Charlemagne (c. 825–826):
Symbolism