THE SCENE: Charlemagne’s son, Louis the Pious, didn’t earn his nickname because he was fun to hang out with, as demonstrated by this passage where he is described as berating a noble who is too richly dressed.
THE TEXT: Your most religious father [Louis] imitated this example not once but throughout his life, for he never allowed anyone who seemed to him worthy of his notice or his teaching to wear anything when on campaign against the enemy except military equipment and woolen garments and linen. If any of his servants, ignorant of this rule, happened to meet him with silk or gold or silver upon his person, he would receive a reprimand of the following kind and would depart a better and a wiser man: “Here’s a blaze of gold and silver and scarlet! Why, you wretched fellow, can’t you be satisfied with perishing yourself in battle if Fate so decides? Must you also give your wealth into the hands of the enemy; which might have gone to ransom your souls, but now will decorate the idols of the heathen?”
– Gesta Karoli, Notker the Stammerer, 9th Century AD
