Composition of the Bishop of Orleans Jonah (c. 760-843844) "On Royal Duties" is one of the iconic texts of the early Middle Ages. A talented writer, the highest hierarch of the Church and adviser to the Frankish emperors Charlemagne and Louis the Pious, Jonah witnessed the birth of the Carolingian empire, its heyday and decline. During the conflict between Louis the Pious and his sons Ion, in the hope of preventing the collapse of the empire, he writes a treatise for the emperor's youngest son, King Pepin, reminding him of the duties of the ruler. His reflections on royal power are a unique example of political reflection, comprehension of the place and role of sovereigns in the life of early medieval society.