Formation and Collapse of the
Carolingian Empire
• The Carolingians were a Frankish noble
family that replaced the Merovingians as
the royal dynasty (usurped the throne).
• The Carolingians created a new political
system that was neither the empire of
ancient Rome nor a Barbarian kingdom. To
maintain their empire they fashioned new
political structures while appealing to a
legacy of the imperial Roman past.
The Carolingian Dynasty
• Charles Martel, Mayor of the Palace
• Pepin the Short, King of the Franks (751768 C.E.)
• Charles the Great (Charlemagne), (768-814)
– Brother Carloman died 771
– Crowned “Emperor of the Romans” 800 C.E.
• Louis the Pious (814-842)
• I. Building an Empire
• II. The Disintegration of Empire
• III. The Dark Ages and the beginning of
Feudalism
I. Building an Empire
• 1. Military Expansion
– Against Saxons (Northern Germany); Lombards (Italy)
• 2. An Alliance with the Bishop of Rome
• 3. Governing without a state or regular
taxation
– missi dominici (itinerant judges)
– Appointed counts as regional administrators and
military leaders (counties)
– Oaths of fidelity
– Monks for literate scribes and advisors
II. The Disintegration of Empire
• 1. Internal Divisions and Centrifugal Forces
– Problem of empire as private property
– Partition of Verdun 843 (C.E.)
– Rebellion by local counts and lords (milites)
• 2. External Invasions (Ninth and Tenth
centuries)
– Vikings (Norsemen, Northmen, Rus)
– Magyar (Established in Danube River Valley)
– Muslim Pirates raids along Mediterranean coasts
“Age of Viking Expansion”
• Annals of St. Bertin
– Charles the Bald king of Western Franks pays extortion
money to Vikings (845)
– Local lords such as Odo count of Paris led defense (also
bishops )
• Chronicle of St. Denis
– Rollo the Norman (Northman) received the Duchy of
Normandy from Charles the Simple (c. 911)
– Oaths of fidelity among warlords and bishops
– Vikings/Scandinavians Convert to Christianity
• As a consequence of the disintegration of
the Carolingian political order and the
subsequent invasions, people during the
tenth century began to seek protection from
local warlords/landlords (milites) who
assumed responsibilities once vested in
royal authorities.
III. Dark Ages (late 9th and 10th
centuries) and Early Feudalism
• 1. Decentralized Power; weak monarchs;
petty lords control local areas
• 2. Lord and Vassal Relations (vassalage)
– Voluntary personal ties of loyalty and dependence
between free warriors sealed by oaths
• 3. The Fief (and the benefice)
– Grants of property or jurisdiction
– Heavy armed cavalry (stirrups, saddles, lances)
– Fortresses and simple Castles
• 4. Confusion of Loyalty and Obligations
• 5. The Manor and Manorialism
(Seigneurialism) Seigneur/Señor/Lord
• 6. Serfs and Peasants
– Increase in Agricultural Production
• Heavy plow, shoulder yoke, and three-field rotation
– Provided their lord with portion of annual agricultural
production
– Tied to the land, but could not be dispossessed
– Provided labor services to their lords (in place of taxes)
Lords/Vassals
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
God
King
Duke
Count: William of Aquitaine/Fulk of Anjou
Bishop: Gerald of Limoges/Gilbert
Viscount: Boso/Ralph
Lord: Joselin/Hugh/Aimery/Bernard
The Demise of the Carolingian
Dynasty
• East Frankish Kingdom (the Kingdom of
Germany
– Otto I Duke of Saxony chosen king 936
• Battle of Lechtfeld 955 defeats Magyars
• Imitates Charlemagne 962
• West Frankish Kingdom (the Kingdom of
France)
– Hugh Capet Count of France chosen king 987
• Duke of Lorraine
The End of Saxon Rule in
England
• Cnut Prince of Denmark
– King of England (1016), Denmark (1018), and
Norway (1028)
• Edward the Confessor
– Regains throne from Cnut’s son (1042)
• William Duke of Normandy becomes king
of England
– Battle of Hastings 1066 CE
• http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:M
ap_France_1030-fr.svg