The Talisman of Charlemagne

By Crusader1307

Emperor Charlemagne of The Holy Roman Empire, was well known for His many innovations and advancements of Culture after The Fall of Rome. He set the stage for Laws, Commerce etc. But The Emperor also had many more unusual encounters with the strange and unbelievable. The alleged ‘’Talisman of Charlemagne’’ may be such a 9th Century AD Urban Legend. A ‘’Collector’’ of ‘’Holy Relics’’, The Emperor was reportedly buried with a beautiful Golden and jewel encrusted Relic Holder/Necklace. Inside this ‘’Gift’’ was reportedly a hair taken from Jesus’ Mother, Mary. Legend states that it was Emperor Frederick I (Frederick Barbarossa), who had Charlemagne’s Tomb opened, to retrieve the valuable Relic. The Talisman would make it’s way into the hands of Napoleon Bonaparte’s Wife, Josephine. But by this time – The Legend stated that ‘’The Hair’’ had been removed and a small piece of wood from ‘’The True C’oss'’ (Christ’s execution), installed. In time, The Talisman would make it’s way to Aachen Cathedral (Germany), where it still is displayed (complete with ‘’True Cross’’ fragments). While most of The Talisman’s ‘’journey’’ is somewhat documented – these records only seem to accurately date from 1804. Some think that Josephine may have traded The Talisman with ‘’True Cross’’ fragments for ‘’Mary’s Hair’’. If so, no One is sure of what happened to it.