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86 Charlemagne and the Franks: Rise and Fall of the Frankish Empire

Charlemagne & the Franks

Aim

  • Evaluate the "greatness" of Charlemagne's empire compared to previous empires.

Western Europe After the Fall of the Roman Empire Review

  • Review the political, social, economic, and cultural characteristics of western Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire.
  • Each student chooses one category (political, social, economic, cultural) and lists two associated characteristics.

Comparing Maps of that Time

  • Compare maps to identify big changes over time.
  • Draw conclusions about the Frankish Empire of Charlemagne.

Charlemagne's Empire

  • Charlemagne's kingdom in 771 was expanded by his conquests.
  • Key regions include Neustria, Austrasia, and Alemannia.

Modern Countries Part of Charlemagne's Empire

  • Identify which modern countries would have been part of Charlemagne's empire.
  • Draw conclusions about Charlemagne's impact on modern Europe.

Fall of Rome and the Rise of Charlemagne

  • After Rome collapsed in the fifth century, hopes centered on recreating the Pax Romana.
  • The Roman Catholic Church and Charlemagne aimed to restore order.
  • Charlemagne was crowned emperor in 800, his realm encompassing most of today's European Union.
  • Distinctions between German, French, and Latin speakers emerged under his grandsons.

Timeline of the Franks and Charlemagne

  • 476 AD: Rome is sacked by Germanic tribes.
  • 481-511 AD: Clovis unites the Franks, conquers Gaul, and converts to Christianity.
  • 511-751 AD: Clovis' descendants rule as the Merovingian Dynasty.
  • 732 AD: Charles Martel defeats Muslims at the Battle of Tours, maintaining Christianity in Europe.
  • 751 AD: The Carolingian Dynasty replaces the Merovingian Dynasty.
  • 768-800 AD: Charlemagne rules as King of the Franks.
  • 800-814 AD: Charlemagne is crowned "Holy Roman Emperor" by the Pope.
  • 843 AD: The Carolingian empire is divided by the Treaty of Verdun.
  • 800-1100 AD: Viking raids and invasions lead to a European "Dark Age."

Clovis and the Merovingian Dynasty

  • The Merovingian kings made foundational contributions to the formation of Europe.

Frankish Expansion

  • Expansion from Frankish Territory in 481 under Clovis to conquests until 814 under Charlemagne.
  • Territories include those of the Avars and Visigothic kingdom.

The Baptism of Clovis

  • Clovis I was the first Christian King of the Franks.

Conversion of Clovis

  • Clovis converted to Christianity after a victory against the Alemanni, attributing his success to God.
  • As a result, all the Frankish people were converted and baptized.
  • Conversion was politically helpful for expanding his kingdom into traditionally Roman territory.

Fleur-de-Lis Symbolism

  • Legend says that at his baptism, the priest gave Clovis a golden lily, and a dove delivered an anointing oil.
  • The fleur-de-lis symbolizes all the Christian Frankish kings, notably Charlemagne; represents purity.

Heraldic Legend

  • Before his conversion to Christianity, Clovis used a banner with toads (considered pagan and devilish animals).

The Florentine Iris

  • Disagreement on the origin of the Fleur-de-lis.

Partition of the Frankish Kingdom

  • The Frankish kingdom was divided among the four sons of Clovis, with Clothilde presiding.

Carolingian Dynasty

  • Timeline includes Charles Martel, Childeric III, and Pepin the Short.

Early Kings of the Franks (509-613)

  • Clovis I united Frankish kingdoms and Roman Gaul.
  • Paris, Soissons, Reims, Metz, and Orléans were chief residences.
  • Upon his death, his sons split the kingdom.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o f Frankish kings

The Moorish Conquest of Spain

  • The Visigoths invaded Roman Spain (409-420).
  • Defeat by the Merovingians at the Battle of Vouillé (507) pushed Visigoths into the Spanish peninsula.
  • The Islamic invasion of France was halted at the Battle of Tours in 732 by Charles Martel.

Battle of Tours (732 CE)

  • Charles Martel defeated the Islamic invasion of France at the Battle of Tours.
  • Winning this battle is considered significant for Europe because the alternative may have led to Islamic dominance in Europe.

Charlemagne

  • Charlemagne ruled from 768-814 AD and expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire.
  • His name means "Charles the Great"; considered one of the greatest kings of the Middle Ages.

Charlemagne's Attributes

  • Charlemagne united, ordered, and maintained the largest European empire since Roman times.

Coronation of Charlemagne

  • The Pope crowned Charlemagne the Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas Day, 800 A.D.
  • This suggests a balance or struggle for power in Europe between church and state.
  • Charlemagne was crowned due to the Pope's design; a partnership helped Charlemagne be successful

Missi Dominici

  • Nobles chosen by Charles to oversee his kingdom and ensure justice.

Scriptorium

  • A place where Roman studies of singing and writing were thought out by boys throughout the realm.

Charlemagne's Views on Education

  • Charlemagne valued knowledge and education, aiming to make Aachen a "Second Rome."
  • He set up a palace school, brought scholars like Alcuin of York, and copied ancient manuscripts.

Correctio & Anno Domini

  • Charlemagne established "A.D." as the basis for calculating dates.
  • He and his experts established a universal Christian order requiring a universal chronology

Carolingian Renaissance

  • Charlemagne valued knowledge and education.
  • He wanted to make Aachen a "Second Rome".
  • He set up a palace school, copied manuscripts, and helped spread Christianity.

Land Distribution Policy

  • Charles only gave more than one county to counts on the borders of barbarian lands.
  • He used land to secure loyalty from vassals rather than bishops or counts.

Charlemagne's Successors

  • Charlemagne -
    768-814
  • Louis the Pious -
    813-840
  • Lothair, Charles the Bald, Louis II

Treaty of Verdun (843 AD)

  • The treaty divided Charlemagne's empire among his three grandsons, leading to its collapse and Viking invasions.

Legacy of Division of Charlemagne’s Empire

  • Splits Europe along lines of Germanic and Romance cultures.
  • WW1 - trench warfare followed almost the same lines of division between French and Germanic societies – some went to France.
  • WW2 - territory of Alsace-Lorraine contested by Nazis – reclaimed.
  • Today Belgium remains a culturally divided nation with French-speaking culture in the north, and Flemish-speaking culture (Germanic) in the south.

Challenges to Charlemagne's Greatness

  • Conquest of Saxony took over thirty years.
  • He killed Saxon chiefs and those who refused to convert to Christianity.
  • He never conquered Spain despite fighting the Muslims for 20 years.
  • Europe remained rural with low population and limited trade networks.
  • Education was mainly for nobles and those becoming monks or priests.
  • His empire dissolved shortly after his death, plunging Europe into the "Dark Ages".

Evaluating Charlemagne's Greatness

  • Assess Charlemagne's greatness using specific evidence and examples.