1 Richard Matthew POLLARD CHARLEMAGNE’S POSTHUMOUS REPUTATION AND THE VISIO WETTINI, 825-1851 The papers in this collection commemorate the 1200 th anniversary of Charlemagne’s death in 814. This also means it is the 1190 th anniversary of the Visio Wettini, the « Vision of Wetti ». Wetti was a monk at the monastery of Reichenau, who experienced an elaborate and terrifying vision of the afterlife before his death in early November, 824. Led by an angel, Wetti saw monks, abbots, priests, and even one prominent secular figure suffering terrible punishments, and also saw the saints enjoying the rewards of heaven. These saints interceded for Wetti, trying to spare him from punishment in the afterlife. Finally, Wetti’s angelic guide passed along many forceful warnings that Wetti was to make known upon his return. Wetti awoke from his vision, and before he died, blathered what he had seen to Heito, the former abbot of Reichenau. Heito soon after wrote up an account of the vision in prose, probably in late 824 or early 825 1 . This prose version was the basis for a rendering in Latin hexameters, composed by the young Walafrid Strabo no later than 826 2 . Currently I am working to complete a book which will include a new edition and translation (and commentary, and analysis) of these two texts, but which will also consider the Visio Wettini’s reception in the Middle Ages and beyond. This paper will consider one particular element of that reception, namely the fate of the Visio Wettini’s mention of Charlemagne. Of course, most will know the Visio Wettini primarily (or exclusively) because of its inclusion of the Frankish emperor. In chapter 10 of the prose version (ll. 446–465 in the verse), the angel shows Wetti Charlemagne suffering an ignominious punishment. In Walafrid’s version the account runs : 1 Progress on my new edition, translation, and commentary (to be completed this year) is detailed here : <http://sites.google.com/site/visiowettini/> (16.12.2015). Previous editions include H. Knittel, Visio Wettini, 3 rd ed., Heidelberg, 2009, p. 34-63 (includes German translation) ; ed. E. Dümmler, « Heitonis Visio Wettini », in MGH. Poetae, vol. 2, Berlin, 1884, p. 267-275 ; J. Mabillon, Acta Sanctorum Ordinis S. Benedicti, vol. 4/1, Paris, 1677, p. 263-271 [= Migne, PL , vol. 105, col. 769-780]. Only Dümmler presents a critical text, based on a handful of manuscripts. Serviceable English translation in E. Gardiner, Visions of Heaven and Hell before Dante, New York, 1989, p. 65-79. 2 On my new edition, translation, and commentary, see the note above. Previous editions include F. Stella, Valafrido Strabone : la visione di Vetti, Pisa, 2009, with Italian translation ; Knittel, Visio Wettini, as n. 1, p. 66- 124, with German translation ; D. Traill, Walafrid Strabo’s Visio Wettini, Frankfurt am Main, 1974, with English translation ; ed. E. Dümmler, « Visio Wettini Walahfridi », in MGH. Poetae, vol. 2, as n. 1, p. 301-333 ; Migne, PL, vol 114, col. 1063-1082. Only Dümmler presents a critical text, though Traill’s is based on a new critical edition prepared for the author’s doctoral dissertation (UC Berkeley, 1971).