Gesta Karoli magni

work by Notker of St. Gall

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 17, 2026

Quick Summary

The Gesta Karoli magni is a work by Notker of St. Gall, written between 884 and 887. This text is a significant source for the Charlemagne legend, blending historical accounts with popular anecdotes and oral traditions. While Einhard's biography of Charlemagne provided a more direct account, Notker's work drew heavily from folklore. The Charlemagne legend portrays him as a legendary figure, a champion of Christendom, and a great leader, with stories attributing miracles to him. These legends spread throughout medieval Europe, particularly through the chansons de geste.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Charlemagne legend
A Gesta Karoli magni, written by the monk Notker of St. Gall (in Switzerland) in 884–887, seems to owe as much to popular anecdotes and oral tradition as to Charlemagne’s biographer, Einhard. By the 12th century, lives of Charlemagne were attributing miracles to him before and…
Read More
A Gesta Karoli magni, written by the monk Notker of St. Gall (in Switzerland) in 884–887, seems to owe as much to popular anecdotes and oral tradition as to Charlemagne’s biographer, Einhard. By the 12th century, lives of Charlemagne were attributing miracles to him before and…
Read More