Distances, Rencontres, Communications – Réaliser l’Empire sous Charlemagne et Louis le Pieux by Martin Gravel (review)

In his book entitled Distances, Rencontres, Communications – Réaliser l’Empire sous Charlemagne et Louis le Pieux (Distances, Meetings, Communications – Making the Empire under Charlemagne and Louis the Pious), Martin Gravel explores the administration of the Carolingian empire under Charlemagne and Louis le Pieux. The Carolingian emperors saw themselves as legislators, judges and representatives of the Church, rulers of a far ranging Christian empire, with territories as far apart as Gaul, Italy, Germany and Spain. It is hard to imagine in today’s hyper connected world, that there was a time when a lack of proper transport and communication were major impediments to national cohesiveness, but such was the case in medieval times. Medieval empires were made or broken based on their ability to effectively transport information and goods. For the Carolingians, governing their vast territories entailed tackling the communication problem posed by the unfortunate combination of long distances and slow and expensive travel. Martin Gravel systematically analyzes diplomatic acts, legislative documents, correspondence, and the incidence of the face to face meeting to offer a well-researched thesis on how the Carolingians kept the empire running.

The story of the priest Conwoion’s epic struggle to obtain a land grant for the monastery of Redon serves as an introduction and apt illustrative tale of the realities and methods of communication of the Carolingian empire. In order to obtain the license, Conwoion needed to contact the emperor. Reaching the emperor, however, was no easy task and involved undertaking a journey of 500 kilometers, from the banks of the Vilaine to the palace. Conwoion first attempted to contact the emperor in 832, knowing he was travelling in nearby lands. The priest made the journey to Limoges to meet Louis, but his request was denied. He undertook a second journey to Tours, but the emperor was not to be persuaded. The persistent priest traveled for a third time, finally obtaining the concession. Around 837–838, trouble brewed over the Redon concession, when a Frankish count disputed the grant. Conwoion travelled a fourth time on behalf of his monastery, this time to Aix-la-Chapelle, where the emperor vindicated Redon’s rights. Conwoion’s journeys were long, slow and arduous, covering thousands of kilometers and uncertain in outcome. Conwoion could have sent the emperor a letter or an envoy but the task at hand required navigating uncertain political waters at the Carolingian court and an adroit hand was needed to steer the course. During his first visits, the priest’s proposal was opposed by the count of Nantes and the bishop of Vannes. On his third visit, he was supported by the bishops of Alet and Quimper and won his grant. Conwoion’s story shows how communication served as a prime sociological factor contributing to the existence of Carolingian political culture. All social constructions depended on the ability to travel to meet the emperor and on efficient communication with the court. The face to face meeting was a crucial way of communication, followed by written exchanges.

Gravel analyzes the Carolingian empire as a network of relationships: links based on baptism, blood, political alliance, friendship, service and many other loyalties. Relationships were the product of interaction between ambiguously defined territories grouped around a few cities. Regionalism ruled yet the Carolingians were successful in uniting these disparate regions under one rule. Regional elites were oriented towards the center by the insertion of Carolingian power at the local level on behalf of loyal supporters. The emperor depended on the loyalties of those close to him. He cultivated their support by holding meetings with them. Communications were directed at the center always, the emperor travelled to the periphery only in cases of serious crisis. Because journeys were costly, the rich elites naturally had an advantage when it came to gaining the emperor’s attention. Sending correspondence was likewise a costly endeavor, favoring already established elites. Inevitably, the emperor interfered in local conflicts on behalf...