FILE: 04_Utrecht Psalter_Carolingian Gospel Book.jpg

TITLE: Utrecht Psalter from Carolingian Gospel Book - MIDDLE AGES

DESCRIPTION: Utrecht Psalter - Illustrated manuscript - c.830 - FRANCE. Most famous CAROLINGEAN manuscript. (Psalter=Old Testament Book of Psalms). Illustrations differ from interlacement in that they are narrative, pantomimic and gestural. Charles the Great was known as Charlemagne (aka CAROLUS in Latin - thus, "Carolingean"). Carolingeans were Franks, a Germanic people settling in Northern Gaul by end of 5th century. Charlemagne realized monks were corrupting alphabet by transcribing incorrectly and perpetuating it so he hired Alcuin of York to purify alphabet. Result: CAROLINGEAN ALPHABET. He established SCRIPTORIA all over empire. Charlemagne conquered Saxons; murdered all Saxon men taller than a Saxon sword.