Medieval Europe

Germanic Tribes and Charlemagne

Why the Dark Ages?

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476, things are not so sunny in Europe

No strong central government to manage:o Roadso Bridgeso Lawo Educationo Currencyo Economy

Germanic Societies

Germanic Influences

Loss of literacy and common language as territory is divided up, societies become more rural

Shifting borders as kingdoms fight over territoryo Loyalty to family or personal allies, rather

than the stateo No “greater good” as in Roman Republic

Germanic Influences

Loss of Greek and Roman scholarship (The development of various languages mirrored the continued

breakup of a once unified empire)Divisions and

differences in culture reflect the crumbling of Rome

The Merovingians

The Merovingians were the first dynasty of Frankish kingso Located in Gaul

Clovis (466-511) becomes king at 15o Brutal, warlikeo Converts to Christianity-uses Roman

Church to his advantageo support him in war

“I take it very hard that these Arians hold part of Gaul. Let us go with God’s help and conquer them and bring the land under our control”

Baptism of Clovis by Saint Remy in 496 (artist unknown, 1500)

Clothilde (Clovis’ wife) praying to St. Martin of Tours

Merovingians

Clovis’ four sons divide the territory he united

Rulers that follow Clovis are ineffective “Do Nothing” kingso Power is held by the major domo-mayor

of the palaceo Pepin of Herstal (Pepin the II) - gained

territory throughout modern France

Merovingians

Pepin’s illegitimate son, Charles Martel takes power in 719o Defeats Muslims at Battle of Tours,

stops expansion into Europeo Charles’ victories earn church support

Charles’ son, Pepin the Short succeeds himo Shaves the head of the actual king, forces

him into a monastery, where he dies within a year. How convenient…

Carolingians

Pepin is crowned king with the pope’s blessing, first Carolingian king(from the Latin for Charles, Carolus)

“Donation of Pepin”-land given by Pepin to the pope, becomes papal state Coronation of Pepin by Boniface

Carolingians

Pepin divided his kingdom between his sons, Carloman and Charles

Charles becomes known as “Charles the Great,” “Charlemagne” in Frencho Over 60 successful military

campaigns secure his legacy

Charlemagne

“He was large and strong, and of lofty stature, though not disproportionately tall (seven-feet tall). His head was round and well-formed, his eyes very large and vivacious, his nose a little long, his hair white, and his face jovial. His appearance was always stately and very dignified, whether he was standing or sitting…His gait was firm, his whole carriage manly, and his voice clear.”

Einhard, Life of Charlemagne, (New York: Harper and Brothers, 1880.

“Then, one could see the Charlemagne of iron, with his head covered by a iron helmet, his arms bearing iron protectors; in his left hand he carried an iron lance, and in the right his always victorious steel sword. His muscles were covered with iron plates, and his shield made of pure iron. "When he appeared, the inhabitants of Pavia cried out with fear: O, the Iron Man! O, the Iron Man!”

Historia Universal, Spanish Edition, vol. IV, pg. 790.

Charlemagne

Physically: tall, athletic, strong horseman

Socially: gregarious, honest, calm

Religiously: devout, reformed the Church

Charlemagne

Intellectually: illiterate, could speak Frankish, Latin, and Greek

Hobbies: War! Father of the

“Carolingian Renaissance”

Charlemagne

Crowned “Roman” emperor in 800 on Christmas day by Pope Leo III First time a pope had crowned a king Establishes the Church’s power over EVERYTHING

Charlemagne

Charlemagne had 3 main goals for his new “Roman Empire”

1. Uniformity: standardization of writing, language (Latin!), currency, measurements

2. Education: schools, imported scholars, free public education, based around Church

3. Diplomacy: contact with the pope, emperor in Constantinople, caliph in Baghdad

Accomplished through complex bureaucracy, “missi dominici”-messengers of the lord”

Left: Charlemagne’s palace chapelRight: Charlemagne’s palace complex

at Aachen

Charlemagne

Charlemagne appoints his son, Louis, emperor in 813Louis is ineffective as a ruler, territory is

divided between his 3 sons : Lothair, Charles the Bald, and Louis the German

Treaty of Verdun

Charlemagne’s grandsons divide the empire officially in 843

Lack of central authority, empire grows weako Vulnerable to attack by Vikings Magyars,

SlavsNeed for protection from invaders in

an agrarian society leads to FEUDALISM!

Gregarious: (adj.) fond of the company of others; sociable.