4.2.a Charlemagne

Aachen

Capital of Charlemagne's empire; located on the border of modern Germany, Belgium and France.

Mercenaries

Foreign soldiers who fought for money. Franks had performed this role for some Roman legions.

Saxon Wars

Fought between 772 and 804, these wars between the Franks and the Saxons, saw the latter brought under Frankish control and converted to Christianity.

Pope

Head of the Roman Catholic Church, the Bishop of Rome, successor of St Peter.

Silver currency`

Implemented by Charlemagne throughout his empire, this high value coinage allowed for easy exchange and vastly stimulated trade.

Clovis

King of Franks from 509-511; conquered Gaul; earned support of Gaul and Church of Rome by converting; Ruled lands in Frankish custom but kept Roman legacy.

Charlemagne

King of the Franks (r. 768-814); emperor (r. 800-814). Through a series of military conquests he established the Carolingian Empire, which encompassed all of Gaul and parts of Germany and Italy. Illiterate, though started an intellectual revival.

Missi Dominici

agents of Emperor Charlemagne who traveled throughout the empire to check the condition of the roads, listen to grievances, and see that justice was done.

Carolingian Renaissance

period of intellectual, cultural, and economic revival occurring in the late Eighth and Ninth centuries, with the peak of the activities occurring during the reign of Charlemagne. Contradicts the idea of the 'Dark Ages'.

Franks

s Germanic people who lived and held power in Gaul. Their leader was Clovis and he would later bring Christianity to the region. By 511 the Franks had united into one kingdom and they controlled the largest and strongest parts of Europe.

Carolingian

A series of Frankish rulers including Pepin and Charlemagne lasting from 751 to 987

Holy Roman Emperor

A title given to Charlemagne in 800 by Pope Leo III in recognition for his defence of papal lands. It established him as the Christian successor the emperors of ancient Rome.

Law Code

An achievement of Charlemagne, this harsh list of legislation gave clarity to people about what was, and was not, legal.

Leo III

Pope in 8th/9th Centuries, who crowned Charlemagne.

Latin Script

Standardised under Charlemagne, to help achieve greater consistency and clarity in written work and records. Assisted in the spread of education.