CHARLEMAGNE Document -OVERTHROW OF THE MEROVINGIANS

Chronicles (A record of events year by year) of Lorsch, 9th century

749. Burchard, bishop of Wilrzburg, and Fulrad, priest and chaplain, were sent [by Pepin] to pope Zacharias to ask his advice in regard to the kings who were then ruling in France, who had the title of king but no real royal authority. The pope replied by these ambassadors that it would be better that he who actually had the power should be called king.

751. In this year Pepin was named king of the Franks with the sanction [approval] of the pope, and in the city of Soissons he was anointed with the holy oil by the hands of Boniface, archbishop and martyr of blessed memory, and was raised to the throne after the custom of the Franks. But Childerich, who had the name of king, was shorn [cut] of his locks [hair] and sent into a monastery.

754. And after pope Stephen had received a promise from king Pepin that he would defend the Roman church, he anointed the king and his two sons, Charles and Carlomon, with the holy oil. And the pope remained that winter in France.

QUESTIONS1. According to the source, why is it permissible for Pepin to overthrow the Merovingian Dynasty?

2. What conclusions can we make about the role of the Church in Western Europe during the early Middle Ages? Use at least two pieces of specific evidence form the text to support your answer.

3. Hypothesize: Why does Pepin have the Pope anoint his sons with holy oil?

Charlemagne, aka Charles the Great

Document 1-THE CORONATION OF CHARLEMAGNE

Frankish Royal Chronicles, Late 8th century-early 9th century

On the most holy day of the nativity of the Lord, as the king rose from praying at Mass before the tomb of the blessed apostle Peter, pope Leo placed a crown on his head and all the Roman People cried out, “To Charles Augustus, crowned by God, great and peace-giving emperor of the Romans, life and victory,” And after the laudation he was adored by the pope in the manner of the ancient princes and, the title of patrician being set aside, he was called emperor and Augustus. A few days later he commanded the men who had deposed the pope the year before to be brought before him. They were examined according to Roman law on a charge of treason and condemned to death. However the pope interceded for them with the emperor and they were spared life and limb. Subsequently they were sent into exile for so great a crime.

QUESTIONS

1. Why do you think the Pope crowned Charlemagne Emperor? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

2. What does this event reveal about the relationship between the Church and the Kings of Medieval Europe? How does it compare to the relationship described in the painting?

Document 2-ORGANIZATION OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE

General Capitulary of the Missi (official commissioned by the king to supervise the administration of justice), 802

…the most serene and most Christian lord emperor Charles has chosen from his nobles the wisest and most prudent men, both archbishops and some of the other bishops also, and venerable abbots and pious laymen, and has sent them throughout his whole kingdom, and through them…has allowed men to live in accordance with the correct law. Moreover, where anything which is not right and just has been enacted in the law, he has ordered them to inquire into this most diligently and to inform him of it; he desires, God granting, to reform it. And let no one, through his cleverness or astuteness, dare to oppose or thwart the written law… But all shall live entirely in accordance with God's precept… And let the missi themselves make a diligent investigation whenever any man claims that an injustice has been done to him by any one, just as they desire to deserve the grace of omnipotent God and to keep their fidelity promised to Him, so that entirely in all cases everywhere, in accordance with the will and fear of God, they shall administer the law fully and justly... And if there shall be anything of such a nature that they, together with the provincial counts, are not able of themselves to correct it and to do justice concerning it, they shall, without any ambiguity, refer this, together with their reports, to the judgment of the emperor…

QUESTION

1. How does Charlemagne unify his kingdom? Use at lease two pieces of evidence from the text to support your answer.

2. How does the size of Charlemagne's empire compare with that of the Western Roman empire? Did Charlemagne reclaim the glory of Rome?

Charlemagne's Empire Western Roman Empire