IN the following pages I have endeavoured to give
some idea of the first Western Emperor's per-
sonality and influence upon European history.
I have limited myself, in dealing with institutions
and social and literary developments, to those facts
which seemed to throw light on his career. The ex-
igencies of space have, however, compelled me to
restrict these studies of his background within nar-
row limits. I have, throughout, based my narrative
on a study of the chronicles, diplomata, and litera-
ture of the period. In matters of chronology I have
followed the valuable Annalen of Richter ( Halle,
1885); to which and to the more extensive work of
Abel and Simson I am greatly indebted in other
ways. In interpreting the authorities I have freely
availed myself of the standard authorities in English,
French, and German. In particular I may express
my obligations to the works of Waitz, Muhlbacher,
Gregorovius, Döllinger, Fustel de Coulanges, Hau-
reau, Viollet; and among English writers to Dr.
Mombert, Mr. J. Bass Mullinger, and Dr. Hodgkin.
When I began this book I did not know that Dr.
Hodgkin was already in the field. Since complet-
ing it I have consulted his biography, published in

-iii-