The Rise of the Franks

I. Invasions of Western Europe

• Fall of Roman Emp.=Middle Ages (500-1500)• New society emerged that had roots in:

– 1. classical heritage of Rome– 2. beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church– 3. customs of various Germanic tribes

• 5th cent. --results of Germanic invasions – 1. disruption of trade– 2. downfall of cities– 3. population shifts

A. Decline of Learning

• Germanic tribes = illiterate

• Result?

• Germanic tribes had oral tradition, but no written language

B. Loss of a Common Language

• Latin changed – Different dialects developed – By 800s: French, Spanish, & others evolved

from Latin

II. Germanic Kingdoms Emerge

• 400-600: Germanic kingdoms replaced Roman provinces

• the Church survived – Provided order & security

A. Governmental Concepts Change

• Govt. changed• Roman society = govt. & written law• Germanic society = family ties & personal loyalty

– Lived in small comms. governed by unwritten rules & traditions

• Germanic chiefs led bands of loyal warriors– Warriors not obligated to obey unfamiliar king

• Stress on personal ties = impossible to establish orderly govt. for large territories

• Franks = Germanic tribe that played the greatest role

B. Clovis & the Merovingians

• 481: Clovis became king of

a Frankish tribe

--traced ancestry back to

Merovech

--conquered other Franks

--seized Gaul

• Married a Christian

• Became supporter of Christianity – Gained support from Church

• 511: united Franks into one kingdom

• Kingdom divided among sons– Weak rulers– Pepin II (687-714)—united &

ruled the Frankish kingdom

C. Charles Martel & Pepin the Short

• Charles Martel (Pepin’s son)– Succeed as mayor of palace– Defeated Moors near Tours– 741: died—left kingdom to Pepin III & Carloman

• Pepin the Short became sole ruler

• 751: pope crowned Pepin “King by the grace of God”– This est. the Carolingian Dynasty (r. 751-987)

• Pope asked for Pepin’s help against Lombards

• Gave territory around Rome to the Pope– “Donation of Pepin” (Papal States)

• Formed alliance betw. Church

& Franks

III. Germans Adopt Christianity

• Politics helped spread Christianity – Franks converted many Germanic tribes

• Missionaries also spread the word of God

A. Monasteries, Convents, Manuscripts

• Monasteries: religious communities – Monks

• Convents– Nuns

• Benedict (Italian monk)– Wrote book describing rules of monasteries – Scholastica (twin sister)—adapted rules for

convent

• Monks & nuns devoted lives to prayer & good deeds

• Monasteries = best educated comms. – Monks opened schools

• 731: the Venerable Bede (English monk)– Wrote history of England– Ecclesiastical History of the English People

IV. Charlemagne’s Empire

• Pepin’s son (r. 768-814)

• Little education, but deeply religious

• Conquered many lands

• Goal: restore power & glory of the Old Roman Emp. – Renovatio imperi romani

• 800: larger than Byz. Emp.

• Most powerful king in W. Euro.

• 800: Char. crowned emperor by Pope Leo III– Signified that Char. was the successor to the

emperors of Rome

A. Govt.

• Char’s. empire = several hundred regions/counties – Ruled by a count

• Overseen by the Lord’s Messengers• Raised own army & administered laws

– Capital city = Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen, Germany)

B. Education & Learning

• Char. Promoted education – Founded a school in his palace

• Learned scholars (monks) taught

– Produced the Carolingian Bible – Bishops created libraries & organized schools

C. Decline of the Frankish Emp.

• Char’s. empire crumbled under Louis the Pious

• 840: Louis died—Emp. divided among 3 sons – Lothair, Charles the Bald, Louis of Germany

• Char’s. descendents fought among themselves

• 870: middle kingdom broke up (divided by eastern & western

• Carolingian kings lost power

• Lack of strong rule led to feudalism