Charlemagne, le prince à cheval
Encyclopedia
Charlemagne, le prince à cheval is a 1993 television miniseries
about the life of Charlemagne
. It consists of five episodes and covers the period from the death of his father, Pepin the Short in AD 768
until Charlemagne's corronation as the first Holy Roman Emperor
on Christmas Day, AD 800
. However, there is a minor chronological anachronism: in an earlier episode, we see Widukind
, the king of the Saxons
surrender and convert to Christianity
, which didn't happen until AD 803
.
This program was directed by Clive Donner
and based primarily on the contemporary biography
of Charlemagne written by Einhard
, who knew Charlemagne personally.
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
about the life of Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
. It consists of five episodes and covers the period from the death of his father, Pepin the Short in AD 768
768
Year 768 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 768 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* Pepin the Short , king of the Franks since...
until Charlemagne's corronation as the first Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
on Christmas Day, AD 800
800
Year 800 was a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. It was around this time that the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years, so from this time on, the years began being known as 800 and onwards.- Europe :* December 25 - Pope Leo III...
. However, there is a minor chronological anachronism: in an earlier episode, we see Widukind
Widukind
Widukind was a pagan Saxon leader and the chief opponent of Charlemagne during the Saxon Wars. Widukind was the leader of the Saxons against the Frankish king Charlemagne...
, the king of the Saxons
Saxons
The Saxons were a confederation of Germanic tribes originating on the North German plain. The Saxons earliest known area of settlement is Northern Albingia, an area approximately that of modern Holstein...
surrender and convert to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, which didn't happen until AD 803
803
Year 803 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Nicephorus I of the Byzantine Empire and Charlemagne of the Holy Roman Empire settle their imperial boundaries and sign Pax Nicephori.* Venice is recognized as independent by the Byzantine Empire.* Stiftskeller St...
.
This program was directed by Clive Donner
Clive Donner
Clive Stanley Donner was a British film director who was a defining part of the British New Wave, directing films such as The Caretaker, Nothing But the Best, Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush and What's New Pussycat?...
and based primarily on the contemporary biography
Vita Karoli Magni
Vita Karoli Magni is a biography of Charlemagne, King of the Franks and Holy Roman Emperor, written by Einhard.-Literary context:...
of Charlemagne written by Einhard
Einhard
Einhard was a Frankish scholar and courtier. Einhard was a dedicated servant of Charlemagne and his son Louis the Pious; his main work is a biography of Charlemagne, the Vita Karoli Magni, "one of the most precious literary bequests of the early Middle Ages."-Public life:Einhard was from the eastern...
, who knew Charlemagne personally.
Cast
- Christian Brendel as "CharlemagneCharlemagneCharlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
" - Anny DupereyAnny Duperey-External links:*...
as "Bertrada of LaonBertrada of LaonBertrada of Laon, also called Bertha Broadfoot , was a Frankish queen.- Biography :...
" - Lino CapolicchioLino CapolicchioLino Capolicchio is an Italian actor, screenwriter, and film director. He won a special David di Donatello acting award for his role in Vittorio de Sica's 1970 film, The Garden of the Finzi-Continis....
as "Pope Leo IIIPope Leo IIIPope Saint Leo III was Pope from 795 to his death in 816. Protected by Charlemagne from his enemies in Rome, he subsequently strengthened Charlemagne's position by crowning him as Roman Emperor....
" - André OumanskyAndré OumanskyAndré Oumansky is a French actor. He appeared in more than eighty films since 1958.-Selected filmography:- External links :...
as "Pepin the Short" - Gilles Gaston-Dreyfus as "EinhardEinhardEinhard was a Frankish scholar and courtier. Einhard was a dedicated servant of Charlemagne and his son Louis the Pious; his main work is a biography of Charlemagne, the Vita Karoli Magni, "one of the most precious literary bequests of the early Middle Ages."-Public life:Einhard was from the eastern...
" - Xavier Deluc as "RolandRolandRoland was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the Matter of France. Historically, Roland was military governor of the Breton March, with responsibility for defending the frontier of Francia against the Bretons...
" - Paolo BonacelliPaolo BonacelliPaolo Bonacelli is an Italian actor.He is best known for his performance as The Duke de Blangis in Pasolini's notorious Salò...
as "Vitale" - Vanni Corbellini as "GanelonGanelonIn the Matter of France, Ganelon is the knight who betrayed Charlemagne's army to the Muslims, leading to the Battle of Roncevaux Pass. His name is said to derive from the Italian word inganno, meaning fraud or deception....
" - Pierre Anais as "TurpinTurpin (archbishop)Roland]].He is probably identical with , an 8th-century archbishop of Reims alluded to by Hincmar, his third successor in the Holy See. According to Flodoard, Charles Martel drove Rigobert, archbishop of Reims, from his office and replaced Rigobert with a warrior clerk named Milo, afterwards bishop...
" - Nils Tavernier as "Carloman I"
- Anne De Broca as "Gerberga, Queen of the Franks"
- Dominic GouldDominic GouldDominic Gould is a French actor born 19 September 1964 in Los Angeles, USA.-Films and TV:*Marie-Antoinette - Count*Le Grand Charles - Roosevelt's interpreter*L'Antidote - Andrew...
- Carole Richert as "HimiltrudeHimiltrudeHimiltrude was the mother of Charlemagne's first-born son Pippin the Hunchback.-Life:Little is known about Himiltrude's origins. Paulus Diaconus calls her a "noble girl"...
" - Cris Campion as "Pepin the HunchbackPepin the HunchbackPepin , the Hunchback was the eldest son of Charlemagne by Himiltrude. He is known in French as Pépin le Bossu.Accounts describe Pepin as normally proportioned with attractive features...
" - Sergio FantoniSergio FantoniSergio Fantoni, is an Italian actor.He was born in Rome, the son of actor Cesare Fantoni . In films from the late 1940s, he has worked mainly in his own country but made several appearances in American films in the 1960s, most notably opposite Frank Sinatra in the war film Von Ryan's Express,...
as "Pope Adrian IPope Adrian IPope Adrian was pope from February 1, 772 to December 25, 795. He was the son of Theodore, a Roman nobleman.Shortly after Adrian's accession the territory ruled by the papacy was invaded by Desiderius, king of the Lombards, and Adrian was compelled to seek the assistance of the Frankish king...
" - Frank FinlayFrank FinlayFrancis Finlay, CBE is an English stage, film and television actor.-Personal life:Finlay was born in Farnworth, Lancashire, the son of Margaret and Josiah Finlay, a butcher. A devout Catholic, he belongs to the British Catholic Stage Guild. He was educated at St...
as "Alcuin of York" - Remo GironeRemo GironeRemo Girone is an Italian film and stage actor. He is best known for the role of Tano Cariddi in the epic TV mini-series La Piovra , about the Mafia. As a Mafia leader, Tano's chief enemy was Commissario Corrado Cattani.- External links :...
as "King DesideriusDesideriusDesiderius was the last king of the Lombard Kingdom of northern Italy...
" - Helmut GriemHelmut GriemHelmut Griem was a German actor.Griem was primarily a German-speaking stage actor, appearing at the Thalia Theater in Hamburg, the Deutsches Schauspielhaus in Hamburg, the Burgtheater in Vienna, the Staatliches Schauspielbühnen in Berlin, in the Munich Kammerspiele, and finally in the...
as "WidukindWidukindWidukind was a pagan Saxon leader and the chief opponent of Charlemagne during the Saxon Wars. Widukind was the leader of the Saxons against the Frankish king Charlemagne...
"