Charlemagne and his Empire 371 him, Theodoric, Clovis, Charles Martel, Pippin, and the rest are but shadowy figures. The chronicles tell us something of their deeds, but we can make only the vaguest inferences in regard to their appearance -or character. Charlemagne's looks, as described by his sec- retary, so exactly corre- spond with the character of the king as exhibited in his reign that they are worthy of attention. He was tall and stoutly built ; his face was round, his eyes were large and keen, his nose somewhat above the common size, his expression bright and cheerful. The good pro- portions and grace of his body prevented the ob- server from noticing that his neck was rather short and his person somewhat too stout. His voice was clear, but rather weak for his big body. He delighted in riding and hunting, and was an ex- pert swimmer. His ex- cellent health and his physical endurance can alone explain the astonishing swiftness with which he moved about his vast realm and conducted innumerable campaigns against his enemies in widely distant regions in rapid succession. '^j^sL. <rir« a*?^ M iB j^ .',> Piii "" li' S^^ ffi |i; 1 Fig. 149. Charlemagne and HIS Wife There is no picture of Charlemagne that we can be sure looked like him. The rather comical one here given occurs in a law document of about the year 820 and shows what passed for a picture in those days. It may be meant for Charlemagne and his wife, but some think that it is a religious painting representing the Angel Gabriel announcing the birth of Jesus to the Virgin Mary
