The Image of Carolingian Expansion into Frisia in the Hagiographic Literature

This paper focuses on the early Carolingian hagiographic production and its role in the Carolingians rise to power. Attention is paid to the image of Carolingian expansion beyond the Frankish Empire in hagiographical literature, using Frisia as an example, and to the possible role of these writings in legitimising Carolingian conquests. In doing so, it is demonstrated that early Carolingian hagiographic production purposefully glorified the Carolingian ancestors within the chosen narratives and, to some extent, formed the legitimising framework of the Carolingian political and ecclesiastical expansion.