Charlemagnes Empire Chapter 13 1 Page 372 Building

Charlemagne’s Empire • Chapter 13 -1 – Page 372

Building an Empire 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 800 s 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’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

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

Helping the Pope 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

Charlemagne’s Rule 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

A New Society 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

Religion • 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 Great Heights • Honored traditional laws of tribes brought under his rule • Western Europe reached great heights under Charlemagne • Most laws existed only in oral tradition • Empire did not survive long after death in 814 • Had many tribal laws recorded • Allowed tribal legal codes to maintain separate existence • Civil war wracked kingdom, grandsons divided empire • Empire weak, invaders poured in

Map of Frankish Kingdom