King of the Franks and Emperor of the
Holy Roman Empire
742 - 814
• “Father of Europe”

Main Idea
Through conquest and social change, Charlemagne tied much of western Europe together in a single empire.
Reading Focus
• How did Charlemagne and the Carolingians build the Frankish empire?
• How did Charlemagne’s actions contribute to shaping a new society?

• Charlemagne (Charles the Great) was born on
April 2, 742, in
Northern Europe. "By the sword and the cross," he became master of Western
Europe. Through his enlightened leadership the roots of learning and order were restored to Medieval
Europe

Powerful Kingdom
• Crowning of Charlemagne a surprise, but not random decision
• His predecessors, the kings of the Franks, worked for 200 years to make kingdom most powerful in Europe
Frankish Empire
• By 800s Franks ruled much of western, central Europe
• Leaders most influential in expansion of Franks all belonged to one family—
Charlemagne’s family, the Carolingians
Early Carolingians
• One of first Carolingians to gain power, Charlemagne’s grandfather
• Charles Martel, political adviser, war leader for Frankish king
• Led Frankish army in many crushing defeats of opponents, notably Muslims

Pippin
• Charles’s son, Pippin III, also skilled leader; won many battles, captured new lands for Franks
• Became first king of Carolingian dynasty, 751
• Upon death, 768, Pippin passed kingdom to son, ruler known today as Charlemagne
Charlemagne’s Rise to Power
• Charlemagne , Old French for Charles the Great
• Name proved accurate, Charlemagne a great leader
• Historically considered one of most important leaders in European history
• Foundation of success, his military power

• In 768, when Charlemagne was 26, he and his brother
Carloman inherited the kingdom of the Franks. In 771
Carloman died, and Charlemagne became sole ruler of the kingdom.
– At that time the Franks were falling back into barbarian ways, neglecting their education and religion.
– The Saxons of northern Europe were still pagans.
– In the south, the Roman Catholic church was asserting its power to recover land confiscated by the
Lombard kingdom of Italy.
Europe was in turmoil.

• Charlemagne wanted to expand his country more to the east and to the west.
•During the time he ruled, his kingdom was usually in war; he waged more than 50 military campaigns.

• Charlemagne conquered about six countries in modern day Europe. He ruled for 47 years and died at the age of 72

• Charlemagne men were always to be ready for war
.they had to fight with whatever weapon they owned.
• Such weapons were spears bows and arrows and swords for those who had them.

Increased Kingdom
• Assembled army each year, led into battle against a foe
Pope Leo III
• Recognized Charlemagne’s skill, called on him for help when Lombards attacked Papal
States , 774 • Incorporated land of vanquished foe into his sphere of influence, formed alliances with local rulers
• Papal states, region in central
Italy under control of pope
• In this way Charlemagne increased size and power of
Carolingian kingdom
• Franks defeated Lombards;
Charlemagne became king of
Lombards as well as Franks

• Charlemagne was determined to strengthen his realm and to bring order to Europe. In 772 he launched a
30-year military campaign to accomplish this objective. By 800
Charlemagne was the undisputed ruler of Western Europe.
– France, Switzerland, Belgium, and The
Netherlands, half of present-day Italy and
Germany, and parts of Austria and Spain.
• By establishing a central government over Western Europe, Charlemagne restored much of the unity of the old
Roman Empire and paved the way for the development of modern Europe.

Another Cry for Help A Pope’s Thanks
• Pope Leo III grateful for
Charlemagne’s help against
Lombards
• Pope Leo III thanked
Charlemagne by naming him emperor of Roman people
• 799, called on Charlemagne again when angry supporters of previous pope ran Leo out of
Rome
• Title implied Charlemagne had restored glory of Roman Empire in Europe
• Charlemagne had Leo escorted back to Rome, restored to power
• Pope’s action suggested that
Charlemagne’s rule had backing of church, God

• Came from humble beginnings (poor)
• Was a good servant to God, the church
• Picked to be Pope
• Many in the Church didn’t like the choice
• Accused him of
Adultery

• Nobles attacked him
• Tried to Cut out his
Tongue and Eyes
• Escaped, Deposed to a Monastery
• Escaped again, Met
Charlemagne
• Escorted back to
Rome

• On Christmas Day in 800, while Charlemagne knelt in prayer in Saint Peter's in
Rome, Pope Leo III placed a golden crown on the bowed head of the king.
Charlemagne is said to have been surprised by the coronation, declaring that he would not have come into the church had he known the pope's plan.
However, some historians say the pope would not have dared to act without
Charlemagne's knowledge.

Powerful
• Charlemagne had tremendous power as emperor
• Empire large, not easy to rule; changes made government efficient, effective
• Established permanent capital at Aachen, in what is now Germany
Delegating Authority
• Built huge palace, cathedral to reflect own greatness
• Chose counts , officials to help rule parts of empire in his name
• Counts bound to obey, granted large tracts of land, given much authority
Oversight
• Inspectors kept tabs on Charlemagne’s counts
• Rewarded counts who did jobs well, punished those who did not
• Inspectors helped ensure counts remained loyal, empire was well run

Answer(s): strong warrior; restored the pope to power; provided stability and order; barons helped him rule

Although Charlemagne is known mostly as a warrior and a political leader, he also made sweeping changes to Frankish society.
Education
• Charlemagne personally interested in learning, spent much time studying
• Wanted leaders in empire to be able to read, write
• Ordered churches, monasteries to start schools
• Students learned:
– Religion
– Music
– Grammar
Scholars
• Noted European scholars invited by Charlemagne to
Aachen
• Spent time teaching, as well as studying, copying ancient texts
• Sent copies of texts to monasteries across Europe; monks there made copies
• Saved many valuable works for posterity

• In addition to improving education, Charlemagne wanted to preserve, spread Christian teachings
• Worked closely with church to create unified Christian empire
• Used force to accomplish, ordered those he conquered to convert to
Christianity under penalty of death
• Sent monks to live among conquered to help Christianity take root
Law
• Honored traditional laws of tribes brought under his rule
• Most laws existed only in oral tradition
• Had many tribal laws recorded
• Allowed tribal legal codes to maintain separate existence
Great Heights
• Western Europe reached great heights under Charlemagne
• Empire did not survive long after death in 814
• Civil war wracked kingdom, grandsons divided empire
• Empire weak, invaders poured in

Answer(s): built an education system, preserved ancient writings, expanded religion, developed single law code

• Charlemagne learned to read
Latin and some Greek but apparently did not master writing. At meals, instead of having jesters perform, he listened to visiting scholars read from learned works.

– Charlemagne believed that government should be for the benefit of the governed.
– He was a tireless reformer who tried to improve his people's lives.
– He set up money standards to encourage commerce, urged better farming methods and worked to spread education and
Christianity.

– When did Charlemagne die? What happened to the Carolingian Empire afterwards?
– In the 9 th and 10 th centuries, who invaded
“France”? What kind of things did they do?
– Explain what happened to these invaders in 911.
– What is Feudalism and why did this order form?
– Draw the Feudal “pyramid” and explain what each level offers.
– Explain the Feudal contract. What responsibilities did this give each member of the contract?
– How did the idea of Chivalry begin? In your opinion, should chivalry exist today? Why or why not?