EINHARD, frequently but erroneous ly called EGINHAIAD, (c.770-840).
The biographer of Charles the Great.. He re ceived his early education in the Monastery of Fulda, where lie did so well that he was sent to finish his education at the school in the palace of Charles the Great. Ifis talents and acquirements gained him the favor of the Em peror. who appointed him his private secretary and superintendent of public buildings. In 809 he ANTS dispatched by Charles on a mission to Pope Leo III. On the death of the Emperor he was appointed by Louis the Pious abbot of vari ous monasteries, but ultimately he retired to the town of :Wiibilheim. Here he erected a monas tery, which caused the name to he changed from Miffilheim to Seligenstadt (City of the Blessed). Einhard died on :Nlareh 14. S40, and was buried beside his wife, who died in 83(3. The two coffins are now shown in the chapel of the castle at Erbaeh. The counts of Erbach trace their descent from Einhard. His Vila Nagai, completed about the year 820. in respect to plan, execu tion. language, and style, is incontestably the most important historic-al work of a biographical character that has come down to us" from the Ages. It was frequently used as a school book, and was therefore copied ad infinitont.
Epistoler are also of great value for the history of the later years of Louis the Pious. Einhard also wrote an account of the translation of the relics of Saints Mareellinns and Peter from Ilona- to Seligenstadt. To Einhard also are ascribed the so-called Annals of Einhard and a rhythmical Passion of the Martyrs Marrellintts and Peter.
According to a legend of the later :Middle Ages, Einhard's wife, Emma. was a daughter of Char lemagne. Love had arisen between them. and on one occasion, when the two had elandestinely met at night in Einmn's chamber, a sudden fall of snow covered the spacious court. thus render ing retreat impossible without leading to dis covery. As the traces of feminine footsteps. could not excite suspicion. Emma carried her lover across the court on her shoulders. This scene. it is said, was observed from a window by Charle• magne, who united the pair in marriage. On lb is legend Fottqms- founded his romance of Eginhard and Emma, and Longfellow' has made it the sub ject of a short poem. For the editions of Ent ha•d's works, and for special studies, consult Wat t etdia eh. Dentsehbonds Gesell ichtmittellen. yids (Berlin. 18143-94).