ArHist 2: Carolingian Architecture

• Carolignan Architecture is covered in ArHist 2.

Historical Condition

• Pepin, Charlemagne's father, seized Ravenna from the Langobards in 756 and gifted it to the Pope.
• Charlemagne was crowned emperor of the west in Rome in 800 by the Pope.
• Under Charlemagne, the Roman Empire was revived as the Holy Roman Empire.
• The Pope in Rome faced threats from the Arabs in the south and the Langobards in the north.
• Napoleon stopped the Holy Roman Empire in 1806.

Cultural Conditions

• The Carolignian Period marked a revival of the Roman Empire.
• Craftsmen were invited from Western Europe and the Byzantine East.
• There was a fusion of Celtic-German spirit with the Mediterranean world.
• Charlemagne forcibly converted pagan German tribes (Saxons) to Christianity.

Geographic Condition

• With the beginning of the middle ages, the center of gravity of European civilization shifted north of the alps.

Architectural Reality

• Carolignan Architecture had two aisles.
• Buildings were on a small scale.
• Emphasis was placed on the westwork or entrance.
• Westwork is a monumental entrance structure.

Palatine Chapel, Germany

• The Palatine Chapel was originally connected to the great audience hall by colonnades nearly 120m long.
• There is a westwork with two flanking circular stairways.
• The entrance and altar are outside the ambulatory.
• The lower level is defined by short, sturdy piers with corners that bend around.
• The upper level is screened off by superimposed columns.
• Cross groin vaults are on the lower level, while tunnel vaults are on the upper level.
• Double orientation is a feature of the chapel.
• The chapel integrates the center and path.
• There is a space within a space.

Westwork of the Abbey Church, Germany

• The entrance space is gabled, protruding, and flanked by 2 towers.
• It features a multi-story central arrangement.
• The Abbey Church was built in 855.

Ottonian Architecture

• Ottonian Architecture is covered in ArHist 2.

Historical Conditions

• After Charlemagne's death, the Moslems, Slavs, and Magyars advanced their positions.
• The Ottos founded an empire, succeeding Charlemagne's Holy Roman Empire.

Geographical Conditions

• Germany became the leading nation of Europe.
• The Ottonian Empire consisted of Germany, France and Italy.

Religious Conditions

• After the church became corrupt and disorganized, the Ottonians promoted reforms and restored ties with the papacy.

Artistic Conditions

• The Byzantine image was translated into large-scale sculptural forms.

Saint Michael, Germany

• Saint Michael features two towers in complete balance.
• It has two transepts and two crossing towers.
• The design uses the method of ad quadratum, a square module.
• Alternating support (stuetzenwechsel) is used.
• The crossing at the nave and transept is defined by a chancel arch.
• The crypt is covered by a groined vault.
• The transept is screened off by three superimposed columns, 3:2:1.
• Saint Michael is oriented to the west and east (pope & emperor).