Charlemagne (Carolus Magnus) Ruled 768-814, the greatest member of the Carolingian family, which arose in the early 7th century in the northeastern region of the Frankish Kingdom, the Austrasia

Foundations of Carolingian Power

1. Land
2. Creative marriage policies
3. Controlled the office of Mayor of the Palace
4. Build up very close relations to leading members of the clergy
5. Great soldiers; great military leaders

733; Charles Martel won a tremendous victory over a Muslim army near Poitiers

751; Carolingians take over the throne

749-750; Pippin III (751-768) sent a delegation to Rome to Pope Zachary (basically to ask for the title of kingship)

Charlemagne (Charles) ruled 768-814

to restore the maximum boundaries of the Merovingian Kingdom

Reform and Innovation

1. Charles made the royal court and courtiers key players in both government and policies.
2. Every year, there was an annual assembly of the Franks.
3. Laws issued in capitularies: Documents in capitula (chapters), implemented by counts (key local officers) and comes (companion, table companion)
4. Key members of the Frankish people were made royal vassals.
5. Missi dominici: Envoys of the Lord King

Ecclesiastical Development:

1. A very close connection with the papacy
2. Extending the ecclesiastical hierarchy

800; Imperial coronation of Charlemagne

• the idea of christendom
• the manipulative idea of St. Augusta; his kingdom is the city of God, his people is the new chosen people, and he is the anointed leader
• the idea of a universal imperial hegemonic tradition

Fall of the Carolingian Empire

-Internal reasons:

• Family rivalries (Treaty of Verdun, 843, the foundations for the eventual emergence of France and Germany)
• The sheer complexity of the lands over which the Carolingians ruled

-External factors: the attacks of Vikings and Magyars