Global connections Unit 3Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire

The Frankish Kingdoms

The Early Middle Ages500-1000 AD

• Characteristics (a dark age?)• Culture

• 3 elements (German, Christian, Roman)• How did the Church survive as the Empire fell?

• Autonomy (courts and law)• Leadership• Organization

Life after Rome476 AD: Western Roman Empire falls Europe is chaotic Barbarian tribes established Kingdoms

throughout Europe Franks in France Angles, Saxons and Jutes in Britain

The Expanded Role of the Clergy Early Caesaropapism: Popes of this time were

forced to assume both temporal and spiritual authority Pope Gregory the Great (590-614) (Chant)

exercised independent Temporal power (ex: helped the poor) Fostered the monastic movement in Western Europe

St. Benedict (Monte Cassino 529): The rules for monastic life

The Role of Monks and Nuns Manuscript illumination Missionary work (St. Boniface) Hospitals, education of farmers

Germanic Culture Oral tradition Rural not urban Legal system

Trial by ordeal Customs

Polygamy Incest

Manuscript Illumination

The Frankish Kingdom Clovis

Allied with the Roman Catholic Church and united Frankish Kingdoms in 496

Began the Merovingian Dynasty On his death years of civil war and the empire

divided into 3 parts Result: Emergence of a noble warrior class and a

new position Mayor of the Palace

Europe in 526 AD

The Carolingians Began as a Mayors of the Palace

Restructured the Frankish lands Pippin of Landon, Pippin II, Charles Martel, Pippin III

(or “The Short”) Charles Martel 714-741: Battle of Tours (732) The end of the Merovingians

Pippin III (the short): Asked the Pope to name him “King of the Franks”

1st Carolingian King of the Franks

Biographical Information Born April 2, 742 in Aix-la-

Chapelle, France Son of Pepin III Hunting, riding, and singing Christian upbringing 4 legal wives and 6

concubines Many children only 3

reached adulthood

Scholarship He Studied Logic, Rhetoric,

Dialects He could read Latin but could

not write Sponsored education by establishing

Cathedral schools (most imp?) At his court in Aachen (aka. Aix-

Le-Chapelle) Charlemagne assembled scholars Alcuin of Northumbria Einhard (Vita Caroli)

Charles as Emperor Charlemagne and Carloman (his brother)

assumed the throne in 768 When Carloman-died 771 Charles becomes the

sole ruler Saved Papacy from Lombards 773-774 Defeated the Byzantines and the Avars Used fear and his incredible energy to control

his Empire 4,000 Saxons killed at Verdun in one day

The Empire of Charlemagne

Organization of the Empire Delegated authority to local Counts Checked on what they were doing using a

system of Missi Dominici (agents of the King) One clergy one layman (every year)

He sought to awe conquered peoples with his fierce presence and terrible justice

Battle of Roncesvalles 778

On way home form Spain his rear guard was

ambushed by Basques or Saracens Charlemagne’s only defeat

Roland became a great hero of many songs, dances, and romances (The Song of Roland)

The Coronation of Charlemagne Christmas Day 800

Pope Leo III crowns Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor

This event solidifies his identity as a man of Frankish practices and Christian ideals

Benefits for Charles? The Church? Did he know?