Unit 3English summary of historical people

ClovisWas baptized by the bishop of Reims.Crowned by the will of God.Became first Christian King of France.After he died, his descendants were

the weak kings.

Charles MartelNicknamed the hammer after his

favorite weapon.Was a palace mayor (head of

administration for the king). The Palace Mayors were given power

by the church to take over for the weak kings.

Charles MartelBecame king due to support from the

nobles. Was the head of the army who lead

the “hammering” of the Arab invasion.

Stopped the Arabs in Poitiers in 732.Reattached the southwest of France

(Provence) to France.

CharlemagneThe grandson of Charles Martel.Was a military leader.Crowned emperor by the pope in Rome

on Christmas day in 800.The church gave their support to

Charlemagne.

CharlemagneGrew his empire.Established bases of administration.

Sent missi dominici to relay messages and information to the people.

Founded schools.Couldn’t read, but liked to discuss

abstract ideas and philosophy.

CharlemagneTried to dislodge the Arabs from Spain

but after all the fighting, not much had changed.

Charles le Simple

Descendant of Charlemagne.

Gave the Vikings the northwest of France (Normandy) to stop their invasions.

Edward the Confessor

King of England (before 1066).Didn’t have children.Died without a direct heir.Designated Guillaume as next king.

HaroldWas an English baron.Tried to take crown of England for

himself when Edward the Confessor died.

Died in Battle of Hastings.

GuillaumeDuke of Normandy.Edward the Confessor gave him the

crown of England.When Harold took the crown,

Guillaume took an army to fight him.Guillaume won the battle of Hastings.King of England in 1066 as well as

Duke of Normandy.

RolandSoldier in the Rear Guard of

Charlemagne’s army.Died in an attack returning from Spain.Was the main character in the epic

poem, “La Chanson de Roland.”