Coin of Charlemagne: inscription reads KAROLVS IMP AVG

Charlemagne’s wars of expansion, diplomatic contacts and new administrative techniques brought great wealth to his court and enabled an intellectual revival
(the “Carolingian
Renaissance”).
 At the same time, his realm reimagined the Western Roman
Empire; Charlemagne is the first “Roman Emperor” in the
West since Romulus
Augustulus in 476
 Charlemagne is regarded as the “founder” of both France and Germany and his legacy as a builder and shaper of
Europe is especially noteworthy this year, the
1200 th anniversary of his death.


The Rise of the Carolingian Family
Merovingian Kings lose power and authority (late 7 th /early 8 th cent)
 Charles Martel (Charles the Hammer): 686-
741 (Battle of Poitiers/Tours in 732)
 Pepin the Short: 714-768 (crowned K. of
Franks in 754)
 Carolus (Charles) and Carloman, sons of
Pepin: Share power in 768; kingdom reunited under Charles in 771
 Charles: r. 768-814.
Reliquary for Charlemagne’s skull, Aachen Cathedral, c. 1350

“New Rome” built in
Aachen, modeled on
Constantinople
Palatine Chapel, like a miniature Hagia Sophia

Dome, Palatine Chapel

Rome, Christmas Day 800: Charlemagne’s Imperial Coronation
 Crowned “Roman Emperor” by
Pope Leo III in Rome, on Christmas
Day, 800
 Title used exclusively by Byzantine
Emperors; Charlemagne was first western ruler to be “Roman
Emperor” since 476


Popes needed protection
Issues with Byzantine Emperors
 Byzantines were surrounded by enemies of their own (Islamic
Empire, Slavs)


Popes wanted to assert independence (by “creating” their own emperor)
From the perspective of the Pope, the Byzantines were becoming odd

The “Carolingian
Renaissance”
 Intellectual Revival



International movement of scholars:
Einhard (Frank), Alcuin of York
(Northumbrian)
Palace School founded at Aachen under Alcuin; Monastic schools founded at Fulda, Tours, St. Gallen
Emphasis on writing and literacy in service of religion
 Intellectual Trends



Copying of Texts (done as part of daily labor at monasteries): 50,000 books copied during ninth century
Encyclopedic accounts (massive compilations of everything known,
Hrabanus Maurus)
Monastic reform and regularization
(promotion of the Rule of St. Benedict)

Ivory Plaques
Left: Carolingian,
Aachen, early 9 th century
Right: Byzantine, early 6 th century

Ebbo Gospels
(Hautvillers, 9 th cent)
Gospel of Mark, below

The Empire after Charlemagne
 Charlemagne dies in
814, Empire passes to only surviving son, Louis the Pious
 Louis the Pious
(814-840)
 Oaths of Strasbourg
(842) and Treaty of
Verdun (843)


