Eginhard was a Frankish scholar, courtier, and historian who lived in the 8th and 9th centuries during the Carolingian Renaissance. Born around 770 A, Einhard is best known for his work Vita Karoli Magni, which is a biography of Charlemagne, the King of the Franks and the first Holy Roman Emperor.
Eginhard was born in the eastern part of the Frankish Kingdom, in what is now modern-day Germany. He received his education at the monastery of Fulda. While there, he studied under the renowned teacher Rabanus Maurus and developed a deep interest in the classical texts of the past.
In the late 790s or early 800s, Eginhard was invited to the court of Charlemagne in Aachen. There, he served as a courtier, a tutor for Charlemagne's children, and an architect. His close relationship with the royal family allowed him to gain access to a wealth of information about Charlemagne's life, which would later inform his biography.
As an architect, he is credited with helping to the Palatine Chapel in Aachen, which is an important example of Carolingian architecture and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
After Charlemagne's death, Eginhard continued to serve the Carolingian dynasty under Louis the Pious, Charlemagne's son and successor. Eventually, Einhard retired to a monastery he founded in Seligenstadt, located in present-day Germany. He died there around 840.