The Palatine Chapel and its Historical Significance
The Palatine Chapel is the sole survivor of Charlemagne's Palace of Aachen's early medieval chapel, which is located in what is now Germany. The chapel in the palace where the monarch lived. Many of the early emperors associated with the Catholic Church constructed one or more churches in their palaces, according to literary sources from the Byzantine period.
Inspiration from Byzantine Architecture
The spectacular designs of the Cappella Palatina (Palatine Chapel) in Palermo, intended for Roger II, the Sicilian King, were inspired by these kinds of architecture in Constantinople, now known as Istanbul, Tur. Sicily's architectural styles incorporate elements from both Islamic and Norman cultures. Besides the Palatine Chapel being the best reserves and most well-known Carolingian building, it is a representation of the classical revival style that attributes the Charlemagne’s reign. The period of construction is not defined the palace chapel, however, is said to have been dedicated to Virgin Mary and Christ by the late Pope Leo III in a ceremony conducted I 805. This was five years after Charlemagne was promoted by Leo from the position of a King to the position of Holy Roman Emperor (Kleinbauer, 1965).
The Influence of Constantine and Ancient Rome
The decision-making process of the design that was to be used in the construction of the Chapel was made strategically with choices that were linked to the legacies of the 4th-century emperor Constantine and the ancient Rome. Constantine was considered to be important as he was the first Christian emperor of Rome. The choice of the location of the palace chapel was selected because it was a historic Roman site that had hot springs primarily used for bathing. The materials that were used for constructing the Chapel also invoked the Romans as the marble stones, and the columns were permitted by Pope Hadrian. At the church’s consecration, a relic of the cloak that belonged to St. Martin was installed, and this was chosen by a 4th-century soldier who claimed to have had a vision of Jesus sharing a cloak with a beggar, and this served to reinforce the Charlemagne’s rule with Rome.
Incorporation of Christian Influences
The classical style of the palace chapel referenced its Roman imperial lineage especially its imitation of two prominent Christian buildings i.e. San Vitale in Ravenna and the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem (Kleinbauer, 1965). It is believed that the Holy Sepulcher contains the site of Christ’s crucifixion and his tomb. The centralized plan and its surrounding ambulatory are replicated in the Palatine Chapel especially when you focus on the centrally planned church being positioned at the center. This is in contrast with the basilica plan that entailed a long hall with the ambulatory being the circular hallway at the central space whereas the open walkway that faces the central space is the gallery. The Holy Sepulcher may have influenced the lion-head knockers placed at the Palatine chapel’s bronze doors.
Symbols of Regeneration and Imperial Rule
The Palatine chapel’s octagonal plan also represents the tradition of early baptizers, and Christian mausoleums with the eight sides being a symbolic representation of regeneration manifested through Christ’s resurrection eight days after the Palm Sunday (Kleinbauer, 1965). Some scholarly have argued that they believe that the marble throne was positioned below the image of Agnus Dei thereby creating a visual symbol of the connection between Christ and the emperor.
Charlemagne's Assertiveness and Contrasting with the Byzantines
Through the designing of the Palatine chapel to almost replicate the designs of Rome and himself as the new Constantine, Charlemagne was carefully making a positive assertion of himself as a ruler through the strategic appropriation of the late antique architectures and artworks (Tekippe, 2004). At the same time, the designs served as an implicit contrast between his reign and the Byzantines (Eastern Empire).
References
Kleinbauer, W. E. (1965). Charlemagne’s Palace Chapel at Aachen and its copies. Gesta, 4, 2-11.
Tekippe, R. W. (2004). Copying Power: Emulation, Appropriation, and Borrowing for Royal Political Purposes. Visual Resources, 20(2-3), 143-159.
