Roman History in Carolingian Europe
International Conference, University of Edinburgh, 22-24 September 2025
The Carolingian fascination with the Roman past is one of the most widely known and studied aspects of Charlemagne's renovatio. Less well known is the period's importance for the preservation and transmission of Roman historiographic works. Yet most Roman historical texts that survive were transmitted to us through Fulda, Hersfeld, Lorsch, Tours and other Carolingian centres: indeed, our texts of some of Livy, some of Tacitus, Suetonius, Aurelius Victor, Justin, Ammianus Marcellinus, and the Historia Augusta are principally derived from Carolingian manuscripts.
The University of Edinburgh and the AHRC-funded Last Historians of Rome project will host a conference in Edinburgh on 22-24 September 2025. This conference will explore the ways in which these historians were read and copied in the Carolingian period and the role of Roman historical texts and scholarship in Carolingian intellectual life, bringing together specialists in ancient history and textual editing with scholars of early medieval Europe. Potential topics include:
- The Carolingian transmission of individual Roman historians.
- The status of Roman historical works at specific centres.
- Individual Carolingian scholars - such as Paul the Deacon, Einhard, Lupus of Ferrières, Freculf of Lisieux, or Hincmar of Reims - and Roman History.
- The role of Roman history in Carolingian scholarship and literature, including hagiographic, homiletic, grammatical and scholiastic material.
- Codicological and palaeographical analysis of Carolingian manuscripts transmitting Roman historical works.
- The enduring impacts of the Carolingian reception of Roman history.
- Comparative approaches to the reception of Roman history in early medieval Europe.
We will welcome abstracts from scholars at every stage in their careers for presentations of 30 minutes in length. Accommodation and board will be provided for speakers, and there are some funds available for travel. Confirmed speakers include: Lars Boje Mortensen, Rosamond McKitterick, Michael Allen, Mariken Teeuwen, David Ganz, Charles West, Anthony Ellis and Veronica Fiscella.
Please submit a title, an abstract of no more than 200 words, and a very short biographical paragraph detailing your interests and background (ca. 100 words) to
a.bargagna@ed.ac.uk no later than
Friday 21 March.
The organisers are also more than happy to answer any informal queries.
Dr Agnese Bargagna
a.bargagna@ed.ac.uk
Dr Justin Stover
justin.stover@ed.ac.uk
