CHARLEMAGNE AND THE
EARLY MIDDLE AGES
Week Eight
petros = rock
Peter
petrify
Petra
geo/terra = earth/land
terra cotta
terrier
geology
CHARLEMAGNE AND THE
EARLY MIDDLE AGES
Week Eight
I. Aachen Chapel

Charlemagne’s Aachen
Cathedral reflects the
succession of the ancient
Roman emperors and the
Christianizing of Europe.
Aachen cathedral
The Octagons of Aachen
II. Charlemagne


Einhard’s hagiographical
description
Reality: a barbarian Christian
conqueror
bio/viv = life
revive
victuals
biology
dict = speak
verdict
dictator
benediction
III. The Making of Barbarian Kingdoms
A. Italian Ostrogoths


Theodoric the Great: Roman
civil government and Germanic
kingship
From chaos to Lombard rule
after Theodoric’s death
B. Spanish Visigoths


Wealthy and desirable territory
Muslims overthrow the Visigoths
and establish caliphate in 711
Ostrogoths
III. The Making of Barbarian Kingdoms
C. Anglo-Saxons
 Little
kingdoms
 Conversion to Christianity, as
chronicled by Bede
 Syncretism and Beowulf: story that
chronicles the adventures of a hero
who saves the Danes from the
terrible monster Grendel
Bede
Beowulf
In Search of Beowulf
Beowulf trailer
III. The Making of Barbarian Kingdoms
D. Franks
 Client
state of Rome
 Clovis and conquest (486 CE);
conversion to Christianity;
launches the Merovingian
dynasty
Baptism of Clovis
IV. Charlemagne and the Carolingians
A. Charles Martel
Rise of aristocracy over
kingdom. Why?
1. Military: scorched earth
and absolute fidelity
2. Religious: loyalty and
religious posts; churchstate collusion

Pippin
The Kingdom of Charlemagne
IV. Charlemagne and the Carolingians
B. Charlemagne
 Conquest:
Pippin’s son defeats
the Lombards, Saxons, Avars,
Muslims
 Government: a crude Roman
administration
Charlemagne’s Empire
Carolingian Renaissance
1. Spiritual renewal
 The
protector of all Christians
under the Pope’s obedience
 Rome crowns Charlemagne
emperor in 800
2. Intellectual renewal
 Education:
establishes schools;
recruits intellectuals
 Fusion of Germanic and Roman
art
V. After Charlemagne
A. Overextension: not
enough infrastructure
B. Division of the
kingdom
C. Threats from outside
D. Return to
aristocracies
E. Christianity spreads
Scandinavia
Viking invasion
Epilogue

Charlemagne’s death

814: buried under Palatine
Chapel in imperial robes
Aachen Chapel today
Aachen’s hot springs