THE CAROLINGIAN EMPIRE

The origin of the Carolingian EmpireThe Carolingian Empire had its origin in the Frankish Kingdom

The Frankish kings were weak and they handed the power over to Mayors of the Palace, who were the main officials

Charles Martel was Mayor of the Palace and defeated the Muslims in the Battle of Tours in 732

Then Pippin the Short, who was the Martel’s son, fought against the Frankish king in 751.

Pippin the Short won and became a king in that year

CHARLEMAGNECharlemagne was the Pippin’s son and became the new king in 768

Charlemagne decided to rebuild the Western Roman Empire

First he conquered the Lombard Kingdom

Then, he extended his kingdom defeating the German Saxons

Finally, he tried to conquered Spain, but he was defeated by Basques in 778. He only could have territories in Cataluña. However he was the stronger power in the Western Europe

Because of his victories, he was crowned as the new Emperor of the West by the Pope in 800

How did Charlemagne govern his Empire?

Charlemagne divided the Empire into counties

In the borders of the Empire he created marches, which were places with many soldiers and military governors

To control all the Empire, he often sent messengers to ensure that his authority was safe. The messengers were known as “Missi Dominici”

The capital was in Aachen

The division of the EmpireCharlemagne died in 814 and his son Louis the Pious became the new Emperor who ruled until 840

When Louis the Pious died, his three sons divided the Empire in three parts and they sign the Treaty of Verdun in 843 to confirm the division of the Empire:

The Western France was for CharlesThe central part of the Empire was for LothairThe eastern part of the Empire –Germany- was for Louis

When Lothair died, Louis and Charles divided his part between them

IMPORTANT DATES OF THE CAROLINGIAN EMPIRE

732: Battle of Tours Charles Martel defeated the Muslims

751: Pippin the Short fought against the King of the Franks Pippin became a king

768: Charlemagne became a king after the death of his father Pippin

800: Charlemagne was crowned as the Emperor of the West by the Pope

814: Charlemagne died and his son Louis the Pious became the new Emperor

843: The three sons of Louis de Pious – Charles, Lothair and Louis – signed the Treaty of Verdun and the Empire was oficialy divided in three parts

778: Charlemagne’s army is defeated by the Basques when the Emperor wanted to conquer the Iberian Peninsula