History PPL

Important People and their achievements:

Emperor Zeno of the East: tried reconquering Italy, orders Chief Theodoric to kill/rid Odacer.

Theodoric: Kills Zeno instead, becomes King of Italy in 493. Begins ARIANISM. “Dual Approach” for Romans and Germans (two sets of laws), with Romans as second-class.

Clovis: First to rule United Frankish Kingdom. “Invented” France. Converted to Catholic by Clotilda. Baptised in 496, intertwined French & Catholics.

Charles Martel “The HAMMER”: Major Domus, mayor of the palace. Frankish King of Austrasia, NE France/Rhineland. Battle of Tours in 732

Pepin The Short: Father of Charlemagne

CHARLEMAGNE: Expanded every spring. 774: Lombards 778: Andalusia 787: Bavaria (Austria) 782-804: Saxony (MASS SLAUGHTERINGS: 4K IN ONE DAY) He saved the pope, gets named Emperor of Romans on Christmas Day. Later happens to Napoleon.

St. Maurice: Patron of Knights, stood up for Christians. Example of Chivalry

Alfred The Great: United Anglo-Saxon tribes in one kingdom. Formed England.

King Edward the Confessor: Died without a heir, appointed to French cousin William. (Last of Alfred’s Dynasty.)

William the Conqueror: Wasn’t given throne by government, later conquered England at Battle of Hastings, and took down Harold, who was appointed instead of him. Created Bayeux Tapestry to tell his rise to power.

Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine: Began the Planntagenet Dynasty. Created Royal Treasury known as the Exchequer. Judges sent annually to collect taxes, settle lawsuits, and punish crimes. Introduced concept of jury. Created Common Law.

St. Thomas Beckett: Went against Henry’s beliefs, got executed for it. (Canterbury Tales)

Richard The Lionheart: Led forces into Third Crusade. 

John I: Took Richard’s throne after death. Very cruel, raised taxes, alienated church, lost half of France to Philip Augustus. Barons of England forced signing of Magna Carta. 

King Edward I: Summoned first PARLIMENT in 1295. Developed legislative group with two assemblies: House of Commons and House of Lords. Kept a check on royal power.

Hugh Capet: Began the Capetian Dynasty. Was Count of Orleans and Paris. 

Phillip II (Augustus): Was the one who took half of France from John. Paid middle class to fill in royal bureaucracy and help administer. 

(St. ?) King Louis IX: Protected rights, expanded courts, no private warfare. Persecuted non-christiands and led two crusades against muslims in the Holy Land. Tried to create alliance with Mongols, failed. (Over common enemy)

Philip IV: “The Fair” Created Royal Courts (PARLEMENT) Establishment Rep. Body known as the Estates General. 

Otto The Great: founded the Holy Roman Empire

Rurik - viking prince of the Rus, rules Novgorod

Cyril and Methodius: made cyrillic, a written script

Oleg: Expanded south and made Kyiv the capital in 870. Started contact and trade with the Byzantines. Igor’s father

St. Olga of Kiev: First russian leader to convert to christianity. She got vengeance for Igor

Igor: Husband of Olga, Son of oleg

Vladimir the Great: Married Byzantine’s emperor’s sister, adopted Christianity in 987. Adopted Byz. art and architecture.

Yaroslav the Wise: spread Christianity