• Home
  • About
  • Become a contributor
  • Contact

DisputedPast

A history blog with the latest from the past
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Art
    • Biography
    • Espionage
    • Government
    • Religion
    • Sexuality
    • Society
    • Technology
    • War
  • Scrutinized
  • Documentaries
  • Reviews

Charlemagne was indeed large for its age: 1.84 meters.

02 February 2014 by Jan Huisman in Middle Ages News - No Comments

The bones of the former emperor of the Franks and the Holy Roman Empire, Charlemagne or Charles the Great, proof that the ‘founder of Europe’ was a large man. Contemporary sources already mentioned that Charles the Great, who died 1200 years ago on the 28th of january 814 was extraordanary large for his day. His biographer, Einhard says:

“Charles was large and strong, and of lofty stature, though not disproportionately tall (his height is well known to have been seven times the length of his foot); the upper part of his head was round, his eyes very large and animated, nose a little long, hair fair, and face laughing and merry. Thus his appearance was always stately and dignified, whether he was standing or sitting; although his neck was thick and somewhat short, and his belly rather prominent; but the symmetry of the rest of his body concealed these defects. His gait was firm, his whole carriage manly, and his voice clear, but not so strong as his size led one to expect. His health was excellent, except during the four years preceding his death, when he was subject to frequent fevers; at the last he even limped a little with one foot.”

According to Swiss researchers, who investigated the bones in his sarcophage that is kept in Zürich, Charles was 1.84 meters. Compared to the average height of people today, he would have been 2 meters if he had lived in our time.

More information on: The local

Charlemagne Charles the Great
  • pinterest
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • google
  • linkedin
  • stumbleupon

Jan Huisman

Previous Story
Why 'War Generation' is strongly criticized in America
Next Story
Nazis wanted to use mosquitoes as a biological weapon

Related Posts

  • ‘Romantic kristallnacht’ and ‘Stolpersteine’. The Kristallnacht remembered
  • Ancient Rome’s city water was a real health hazard
  • Dressed to kill. Fashion in the nazi-era
  • Sensational discovery: 1500 long-lost masterpieces (e.g. Picasso, Matisse) found
  • Golden jewellery found on a New Kingdom mummy
  • Could it be Jesus?
  • Smelly archaeology: world’s oldest cheese found in China

Leave a Comment

Cancel reply

Support this website by liking it on Social Media!

History news by Time Period

  • » Pre history
  • » Antiquities
  • » Middle ages
  • » Early modern age
  • » Modern age

Most read today

Newly added documentaries

  • Kings and Queens of England

    Get yourself comfortable and watch this 4,5 hour…

  • British Pathé shows a wide range of historical footage

    If you like old news footage you definitely have…

  • The real white queen and her rivals

    The Wars of the Roses raged through England from…

  • Henry VII: the Winter King

    Henry VII was the first Tudor-monarch of England.…

  • Henry VIII: The mind of a Tyrant

    Henry VIII is more than a historical figure: he…

  • Women and religion

    Another great documentary by Bettany Hughes.This…

  • Fire and Ice: The winter war

    The Winter War between Finland and Russia had a…

  • The Spanish Civil War

    The Spanish Civil War is regarded as the prelude…

Featured

  • What did the real Jesus look like?

    Our image of Jesus is that of a bearded, masculine figure. A man in agony, hanging on the cross, crucified for the sins of humanity. This rather gloomy presence is quite different in comparison to the Jesus from early Christianity. This original image of Christ is much debated lately, mainly… Read full history →

Scrutinized

  • The hunt for Germany’s nazi-criminals continues: 6000 suspects await investigation

    The leading executive of Germany’s center for nazi-crimes expects that about a dozen former concentration camp thugs are to be arrested. Chief attorney Kurt Schrimm told the Deutsche Presse Agentur (dap) the authorities are working on a list with all the guards at Auschwitz, 6,000 in number. Schrimm heads the center for nazi-crimes and he and 19 employees are on… Read full history →

Featured documentaries

  • The top 5 best history documentary series

    There are so many good history documentaries out there – and lots of crappy ones as well. As a historian and documentary lover, I watched a lot historical documentaries. Good ones. And many bad ones. This list is about the first group.True history documentaries, made by historians. Other criteria are… Read full history →

www.DisputedPast.com - A history blog with the latest from the past * Terms of service *