His life, according to Einhard, and according to a monk of St. Gall.
Sequence for the Feast:
Regni sedes principalis
Prima regum curia.
Regi regum pange laudes
Que de magni Regis gaudes
Caroli memoria.
Iste coetus psallat laetus,
Psallat chorus hic sonorus
Vocali concordia.
Ac dum manus operatur
Bonum quod cor meditatur,
Dulcis est psalmodia.
Hac in die, die festa
Magni regis, magna gesta
Recolat Ecclesia.
Reges terre et omnes populi
Omnes plaudant simul ac singuli
Celebri laetitia.
Hic est Christi miles fortis,
Hic invicte dux cohortis
Ducum sternit milia.
Terram purgit lolio
Atque metit gladio
Ex messe zizania.
Hic est magnus imperator,
Boni fructus bonus sator
Et prudens agricola.
Infideles hic convertit,
Phana deos hic evertit
Et confringit ydola.
Hic superbos domat reges,
Hic regnare sacras leges
Facit cum iustitia.
Quam tuetur eo fine
Ud et iustus sed nec sine
Sit misericordia.
Oleo laetitiae
Unctus dono gratiae
Caeteris prae regibus.
Cum corona gloriae,
Majestatis regiae
Insignitur fascibus.
O rex mundi triumphator,
Jhesu Christi conregnator,
Sis pro nobis exorator,
Sancte pater Carole.
Emundati a peccatis
Ut in regno claritatis
Nos plebs tua cum beatis
Caelis simus incole.
Stella maris, o Maria,
Mundi salus, vitae via,
Vacillantum rege gressus,
Et ad Regem des accessus
In perenni gloria.
Christe, splendor Dei Patris
Incorrupte fili matris
Per hunc sanctum, cuius festa
Celebramus, nobis praesta
Sempiterna gaudia. Amen.
O city of Aix! City of royalty I seat of princely power, and favourite court of kings!
O thou that so joyously celebratest the memory of King Charles the Great, sing thy praises to the King of kings.
Let this glad assembly give forth its hymns, and this sweet choir of music sing as with one voice of praise.
O sweet the psalmody, when the hand achieves the holy meditation of the heart!
On this festive day, let the Church proclaim the great deeds of the great King.
Let the kings of the earth and the people, let all and each, praise him with a holiday of joy.
This is the brave soldier of Christ, the leader of the invincible army, and he prostrates his enemies by tens of thousands.
He weeds the earth of its cockle, and with his sword cleanses the harvest from the tares.
This is the great Emperor, the good sower of the good seed, the prudent husbandman.
He converts infidels, he overthrows the temples, and the false gods, and breaks the idols.
He subdues haughty kings, he establishes the reign of holy laws and justice.
He defends the right, for he loves justice; but he tempers justice by mercy.
He is anointed with the oil of gladness, and with grace, above all other kings.
He wears the crown of glory, he is decked with all the emblems of kingly majesty.
O King that didst triumph over the world! O King that now reignest with Christ! O Charles! O sainted father! pray for us,
That we thy people, being cleansed from our sins, may be made fellow-citizens with the blessed in the kingdom of heaven.
O Mary! Star of the Sea! that didst give to the world its Saviour and its Life! guide our faltering steps, and lend us to Jesus our King, in everlasting bliss.
O Jesus! Brightness of the Eternal Father! Son of the Virgin-Mother! we beseech thee, by the merits of the Saint whose Feast we celebrate, grant us to come to everlasting joy. Amen.










