ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the representation of Roman emperors and Old Testament kings and draws on the language in the same sources. It explores the extent to which Alcuin saw Charlemagne as a successor to the Roman emperors and Old Testament kings, and what he thought the ruler’s function should be with regard to secular and religious duties. The chapter discusses the place Alcuin allocates to Charlemagne and his realm within God’s providential plan and attempts to explain the intention behind Alcuin’s implicit use of Augustine and present a hypothesis on the difference in aims between the direct quotation of and indirect reference to Augustine. Augustine’s more general use of dispensatio in order to define any kind of events relevant to eschatology can also be found in Alcuin’s writing. The noun dispensator occurs in Alcuin’s work both with reference to God as well as with reference to persons who perform their duties in a manner loyal to God.
