THE FRANKISH EMPIRE -

LIGHT DURING THE DARK AGES IN

WHAT WAS CALLED THE HOLY ROMAN

EMPIRE

Who were the Franks? One of the many Germanic tribes who

helped bring down Rome. Settled near the Roman province of Gaul. After the fall of Rome, one of the Frankish

leaders named Clovis began to unite many of the barbarian tribes in what is France and Germany today.

In 496 CE, he converted to Christianity and forced all his subjects to do so as well.

The Carolingian Family rules the Franks

Charles MartelBecame ruler in 714In 732, Muslims tried to

invade France.Martel led forces in defense

of Tours France against invading Muslims.

His victory insured that Christianity would remain the dominant religion in Europe.

Battle of Tours

Thought Question

What might have happened if Charles Martel hadn’t defeated the Muslims at the Battle of Tours in 732?

Martel’s son becomes the next king Pepin the Short

Son of MartelBecame king of

the Franks in 752Anointed by the

Pope○ This made him

divinely appointed.

Tomb of Pepin the Short

Charlemagne AKA – Charles the

Great Son of Pepin Became the Frankish

King in 768 Doubled the size of the

Frankish empireControlled most of

present-day Germany, France, Italy, and Northern Spain.

Charlemagne

Charlemange 10 minutes  While you watch, try to find out what

Charlemagne did that was http://education-portal.com/academy/les

son/feudalism-charlemagne-and-the-holy-roman-empire.html#lesson

Gooood… Bad….. And why was he called the Holy Roman

Emperor?

Educational Revival Charlemagne strove to educate his people.

Started a school in Aachen (his capital city)The school was to teach his officialsCharlemagne himself could barely read and didn’t

know how to write. He did, however, love to have books read to him.

Alcuin, a scholar from England, ran his school.Created a program that focused on: The Bible and

Latin WritingsScholars began copying ancient manuscripts

Charlemagne’s school helped to provide Europe with a common set of ideas.

Ended here….2014

Alcuin – ran Charlemange’s schools

Charlemagne and the Church

Remember, in 800, Charlemagne went to Rome to defend Pope Leo III The Pope was so pleased that he crowned Charlemagne the new Roman Emperor.

Charlemagne wanted to unite much of the Christian people into one European Empire that was called the Holy Roman Empire.

Charlemagne and the Pope

The Holy Roman Empire

How did Charlemagne govern his large empire? He traveled constantly to keep an eye over his lands. To govern the empire Charlemagne had counts, local

officials, to help manage different areas. Counts were to:

Solve local problemsStop feuds (fights)Protect the weakRaise armies for the empire

Charlemagne also rewarded knights with land for their services. This helped create a culture in which many wanted to

become knights.

The Fall of Charlemagne’s Empire Charlemagne died in 814 and his son,

Louis the Pious, took control of the empire.

Louis the Pious struggled to keep things in control and after his death Charlemagne’s three grandsons took over the empire.

The three grandsons fought for control and eventually agreed to divide the kingdom in the Treaty of Verdun.

The Fall of Charlemagne’s Empire

Charles the Bald took the Western part of the empire, which is present-day France.

The Fall of Charlemagne’s Empire

Louis the German took the eastern part of the empire, which is present-day Germany.

The Fall of Charlemagne’s Empire

The final grandson, Lothair, took a strip of land in the middle of the empire.

Thought Question

How do you think the empire was weakened after the death of Charlemagne? What do you think will happen next?

Statue of Charlemagne in France

Invasions of Europe

Start the Homework

Only use the end reading if necessary. Fill in the blanks. Answer questions in complete

sentences. *** responses mean I will accept any

thoughtful response written in a complete sentence because it requires thinking and is not in the reading or notes.