Charlemagne and Feudalism I Background The Franks geographic
Charlemagne and Feudalism
I. Background: The Franks • geographic location • unification under Clovis (500 s CE) • strengthening under: Charles Martel Pepin the Short (700 s CE)
II. Origins of Feudalism • Charles Martel vs. Muslim invaders from Spain • diffusion of the stirrup as an advantage in warfare • make-up of Frankish armies prior to 700 CE: primarily infantry • desire of leaders to acquire cavalry • problems: expensive horses, armor, & weapons
II. Origins of Feudalism • solution: give out land its produce increases wealth • thus serfs are valuable, are tied to land & can’t leave but not slaves; lord protects them in war time • other fiefs: weapons/armor/horses if not enough land • in exchange for military service & fealty • thus, dukes, barons, knights (lowest vassals)
III. Carolus Magnus, aka A. Conqueror territory added to Francia • in S against Muslim Spain • in E against Lombards (N Italy) & Avars (E Europe) • in N against Saxons • advantage? stirrups & centralization under his control
III. Charlemagne B. Administrator • divided kingdom into counties; counts ruled for king but had to swear loyalty • sent out agents to check up on counts & kingdom: missi dominici (“agents of the lord”) • managed his own royal estates • judged cases & rewarded followers • thus, Charlemagne is feudal king
III. Charlemagne C. Patron of Learning & Arts • promoted growth of schools • asked famous scholars & authors to live at his court • studied & collected laws for kingdom (taught himself to read – most of you can read better than he did!)
III. Charlemagne D. Christian King • forced pagans to convert to Christianity • promoted growth of monasteries • was crowned “Emperor of Romans” by pope in 800 did he know about it in advance? title later became “Holy Roman Emperor” • “Christian Empire” in W united by him
IV. Collapse of Empire • Charlemagne’s only son, Louis the Pious, was weak; more concerned with religion than with other matters of state • Louis split empire up among his sons: - Charles the Bald: W - Lothair: middle - Louis the German: E
IV. Collapse of Empire • Charles & Louis fought Lothair for middle territory & split it btwn. them: Charles ruled over “France” Louis ruled over “Germany” title of Holy Roman Emperor went with this part • feudalism spread from Franks all across Europe, despite collapse of their empire • persisted in places like Russia until the late 1800 s
- Slides: 10