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Manuscripts from the the treasury of the Munich Residence

The treasury at the Residence houses jewels and goldsmith's works, enamel, crystal and ivory works as well as manuscripts. Two of them have been digitized so far in cooperation with the Bavarian State Library: Charles the Bald's prayer book and a miniature manuscript in the form of a book pendant.

Charles the Bald's prayer book in the treasury at the Munich Residence (ResMü.Schk0004-WL) is the oldest surviving royal prayer book of the Middle Ages. It originates from the personal possessions of Charles the Bald (823-877), the grandson of Emperor Charlemagne, who became King of West Francia in 843 and was crowned Emperor in Rome in 875. The manuscript's 46 parchment leaves (13.5 x 11 cm) were elaborately designed between 846 and 869 in Charles the Bald's court school. The text is written entirely in gold, partly on purple, the pages are framed with ornamental borders and decorated with initials. Two full-page miniatures (fol. 38v-39r) show the ruler in adoration of Christ. Today's leather binding with gold embroidery and Bavarian pearls was probably made by Elector Maximilian I of Bavaria after 1635.

The small-format gold pendant (ResMü.Schk0175-WL) is designed in the shape of a book cover. The two book covers have eyelets to carry it on a chain or ribbon. The outer pages are decorated with enamelled cartouches and vine work. On the inside of the book covers there are figurative scenes. 18 parchment leaves are bound in with prayer texts in Latin. The text begins on the second sheet with the Charles' blessing and ends with the scribe's signature: CAMILLVS SPANOCHIVS PATRITIVS SENEN. SCRIBEBAT. MDLXXI (This was written by Camillo Spanochi, patrician of Siena 1571). Except for this passage, the closely written leaves of the miniature manuscript could only be made partially legible through digitization at the Bavarian State Library.