Carolingians
Carolingians died out
-Carolingians died out 888 -nobody to continue the dynasty -Last emperor=Charles the Fat (had no children)
Louis the Pius
-Charlemagne's heir. -Perceived as weaker in comparison with father -less successful militarily -Reputation damaged by rumours of wife's adultery.
Charlemagne comes to power
-Charles Martel- 8th c. Frankish aristocrat. -Extended power and influence, making him more powerful than the king. Merovinigan dynasty weakened. -Pipin III became king, given Pope's support. Pipin's son= Charlemagne + Carloman (died) Charlemagne inherited whole kingdom.
who were the Pippinids?
-Charles Martel. Ruled without a king (mayor) -Mayor of the palace formed their own dynasty -Pippinid- would later be known as Carolingian
Methods of communication
-Coins -Legislation- capitularies- gave impression he cared about people -Successful diplomacy- eg. Caliph of Baghdad
Author's interests
-Defended Charlemagne as his hero. -Presents himself as a patriotic Frank. -Conserve own position in history.
Reasons for success:
-Developed successful military system -Accumulated territories, able to have more resources -Able to reward political elite
Reasons for war:
-Dynastic concern -economic -political -ideological (military activism= essential qualities of medieval kingship). -Aim to gain land
Carolingian source
-Einhard's biography the Life of Charlemagne -early 9th century- (after his death) -Vita- about his life, achievements -Charlemagne's greatness, piety.
how factually correct is Einhard's source?
-Factual info limited by exaggeration -gaps in knowledge: Close to Charlemagne, in position to know, but includes few secrets. -Einhard= religious man
God= reason for success
-Franks saw selves as chosen by God. - believed military success due to God's will. -Good kings= Christian
Charlemagne and Italy
-Incorporated Italy into empire but failed to unify -First marriage linked him to Italy- ended after 1 yr -Out-ruled Lombard Frankish alliance -Interest in Italy- home of antiquity and papacy -Son pippin made king of Italy
Standardised currency
-Livre (1 pound of silver) not gold standard
Treaty of Verdun (843)
-ended civil war -1st treaty that divided Carolingian Empire into 3 kingdoms among Louis the Pious 3 sons
Bullough (1970)
-man of heroic stature -notable patron of learning
Ganz liberal arts 2005
-not just a warrior: liberal arts, improved kingdom + churches, loved his children. •granted rule over holy places in Palestine + restores churches throughout kingdoms •Einhard's fullest account is of the Saxon war= most difficult achievement
Nelson 1994 religion and elite
-successfully mobilised higher clergy of Frankish Church and the Frankish aristocracy -religious reform -land to pass to sons
Audience for Einhard's source
-young monks + posterity -Annals- recordings of what was thought worthy -Supposedly anonymous and objective
Charlemagne's military campaigns
1) Italy 774: Pope asked Charles for help. successful. 2) Saxon wars (770-780): long + bloody against Saxon's tribes. Saxony= multicentric tricho-society. Hard to conquer because disjointed + pagans 3)Bavaria (788): against Duke Tassilo of Bavaria. Conquered and sent to monastery 4) Avar (795-6): needed money for policy
Accomplishments:
1) unite Western Europe 2) emperor of HRE 3)spread Christianity across Europe 4)Carolingian renaissance 5)Standardised currency 6) war
evidence of spreading of Christianity across Europe
Benedict's Rule was sent to monks for instruction
who was Charlemagne?
Holy Roman Emperor 800, died 814
Charlemagne's politics
based on informal relationships- family, loyalty, friendship- caused fragility
legacy of the Carolingians
shaped political, religious and cultural landscape of Europe Charlemagne: famous in Europe for being the 'father of Europe'. Unification after fragmentation of Europe.
The Carolingian Renaissance
•Charlemagne supported accessibility to elementary education •Piety- moral religious revival •Copying of ancient classical texts= the true Renaissance (Mostert). •Encouraged Latin •Restricted to the elite •No changes to curriculum
Balzaretti on Italy and papacy
•Incorporated Italy into Frank's empire (sharpened regional identities) •Won papacy's support •Charlemagne could have founded kingdom of Italy, but failed to create sense of unity
what did the Carolingians?
•Tried to disguise bastardy, violent deaths of heirs, coup d'etat, negative image of Merovingians. •Carolingian rule 751-987
Charlemagne crowned emperor
-800- crowned emperor by pope Leo III. -Unplanned -Didn't change way he ruled. -Strengthened relationship w/ church. -Created new imperial capital in Aachen -remained itinerant- important that they were seen.
Reasons for success: (Blockmans and Hoppenbrouwers)
•Used PERSONAL QUALITIES- generous, charismatic •No major tech advances •Heavier armour- mail coat, stirrup •Large army due to rewards + land re-distribution- attracted warriors •Personal dependence •Charlemagne limited full military service to royal vassals + land owners
