Why is Einhard’s Life of Charlemagne considered close to modern biography?

Einhard’s Life of Charlemagne (Vita Karoli Magni) is considered a precursor to modern biography because it reflects a self-conscious effort to document a subject’s life with accuracy and personal insight, distinguishing it from the hagiographic or allegorical works common in the Middle Ages.1

Several factors contribute to this assessment:

• Personal Knowledge: Einhard explicitly prioritized his own observations and firsthand experience, stating that no one could write with more accuracy about events he witnessed or facts he knew personally.1
• Comprehensive Scope: Rather than focusing solely on spiritual virtues, the work analyzes Charlemagne’s family, domestic and foreign achievements, administrative policies, personal tastes, and death.2
• Character Development: While it lacks the sustained psychological depth of modern works, it skillfully reveals the chief patterns of Charlemagne’s character, such as his passion for education, powers of persuasion, and constancy of aims.1
• Intentionality: Einhard was aware of his biographical obligations, setting forth his motives and point of view to ensure the subject was not lost to the "darkness of oblivion," a hallmark of the biographical genre.1