FROM THE FALL OF ROME TO CHARLEMAGNE

GERMANIC KINGDOMS, CHARLEMAGNE,

VIKINGS AND OTHER INVADERS

Germanic Kingdoms• Germanic groups who had invaded Rome established

many small kingdoms– After the fall of Rome, the Western Roman Empire

became a number of states ruled by German kings• Visigoths occupied Spain and Italy and the Ostrogoths

also took control of Italy• Two German tribes, the Angles and Saxons, migrated to

Britain in the 400s– established seven small independent kingdoms,

which became known as Anglo-Saxon England• The only kingdom to last long was the kingdom of the

Franks

.

Kingdom of the Franks• Established in Gaul (modern France) in the late 400s by

Clovis – Merovingian family– He converted to Christianity around 500 when his

troops won a difficult battle• First Germanic ruler to do so

– Massive public baptism of Clovis and 3,000 Franks– This conversion won Clovis the support of the Roman

Catholic Church• His kingdom extended from the Pyrenees to modern-

day western Germany• Following Frankish custom, his kingdom was divided

among his sons after he died

• Intermarrying of Germans and Romans created a new society– extended family was the center of German

society• Protected each other and worked the land

– Different view of law• Roman system – murder is a crime against the

state, not the person• Germanic law – murder is a personal crime,

could lead to a blood feud

–Wergild – “money for a man” – a system using a fine was developed to avoid bloodshed after crimes such as murder• Injured party’s family was paid a set amount of

money (varied by social status)–Ordeal – one way of determining guilt, based on a

belief that the gods would not let an innocent person be punished• If the accused was unharmed after a physical

trial, they are presumed innocent

Merovingian FamilyClovis = Clotilda

Theuderic I Chlodomer Childebert I Chlothar I 3 sons

Sigibert I Gunthram I Charibert I Chilperic I= Brunhilda = Galswintha

= FredegundChildebert II Chlothar II 2 stepchildren

SamsonTheudebert II Theuderic II Rigunth

Sigibert II Dagobert I

Carolingians• During the 600s and 700s the Frankish kings of the

Merovingian family lost their power to chief officials of the household– These chief officials were called mayors of the palace– Were political advisors and war leaders for the king

• One of these mayors was Charles Martel and he led the forces who defeated the Muslims at the Battle of Tours (732), which stopped the spread of Islam into Europe– Charles earned the nickname Martel, which means

“hammer” for his military skills and victories

• Charles Martel was a member of the Carolingian family and his son Pepin would force the old king of the Franks to step down– He became the first king of the Carolingian

dynasty• When Pepin died, his son Charles became the next

king and was known as Charlemagne

Charlemagne• Charlemagne, which means “Charles the Great” ruled

from 768 – 814– Strong warrior and statesman, and a devout Christian– Many historians consider him one of the most

important leaders in European history– Unified Europe for the first time since the fall of Rome

• Expanded the Frankish kingdom – Carolingian Empire– Foundation for his success was his military power– Every year he assembled his army and went to war

against one of his enemies

• Became the most powerful Christian leader when in 800 he was crowned as Emperor of the Roman People– Restored the pope back to power after he had been

run out of Rome– The pope thanked Charlemagne by making him a

Roman emperor• The title implied that Charlemagne had restored

the glory of the Roman Empire in Europe – idea of an enduring Roman empire• Charlemagne’s rule had the full backing of the

church and God• Charlemagne promoted learning which he led to the

Carolingian Renaissance– Renaissance = a rebirth of learning and culture

– It was a renewed interest in Latin culture and classical works of the Greeks and Romans

– Charlemagne spent much time studying and invited noted scholars to his capital

– Ordered churches and monasteries to start schools– Monks during this era copied Christian and classical

manuscripts – this is the reason why these ancient classics exist today

• Government structure– Charlemagne established a permanent capital, which

other Frankish kings had not done– Chose officials called counts to rule parts of the

empire in his name

– Counts were bound by oath to obey Charlemagne and in return they were granted large tracts of land

• Charlemagne worked closely with the church to create a unified Christian empire– He ordered the people he conquered to convert to

Christianity under the penalty of death– Sent monks to live among the conquered people

• Developed a written legal code• When Charlemagne died, his empire passed to his only

surviving son, Louis the Pius– In 843 the Treaty of Verdun divided the empire among

Charlemagne’s three grandsons– Lothair got Italy, Louis the German got the Holy Roman

Empire (Germany), and Charles the Bald got France

Invaders• The relative peace of Charlemagne brought to western

Europe did not last long– Invaders came from many directions

• Magyars– Invaded from the east, originally from central Asia– Fierce warriors and skilled horsemen• Could easily outmaneuver armies of their

opponents – Raided eastern France and Germany, northern Italy,

and the western Byzantine Empire– Eventually settled in modern-day Hungary

• Muslims– Invaded from the south• In the 700s the Muslims crossed over from

northern Africa and conquered Spain, which they would rule for the next 700 years• Muslim Spain was mostly a land of tolerance,

where Muslims, Christians, and Jews lived in peace– 800s and 900s, the Muslims decided to raid instead

of invading• Raided southern France, Italy, and even sacked

Rome– Muslim pirates attacked ships sailing the

Mediterranean

The Vikings• The fiercest warriors were the Vikings• Also known as Norsemen or the Northmen– Came from Scandinavia – countries of Norway,

Denmark, and Sweden• Scandinavia’s land was not good for farming and food

shortages became a problem– Viking leaders decided to take what they needed

from other people• Viking Raids– Great shipbuilders and sailors, ships could carry

crews of 100 and could cross the ocean

– Viking raids were quick and devastating• There was no warning before a Viking attack• Fast-moving ships allowed the Vikings to reach

their targets quickly• Could sail upriver to attack inland• They killed or captured anyone in their way, took

what they wanted, and sailed away– First targets of Viking raids were England and

northern France, but were soon far-reaching• They even attacked Russia and Baghdad

– Among the Vikings’ favorite targets were monasteries

• Viking Settlements– One of the first places settled by the Vikings was

Iceland, followed years later by Greenland– Vikings under the command of Leif Eriksson even

reached North America, settling on the eastern shore of Canada• They were the first Europeans to reach North

America– One king of France, tired of the Viking raids, made a

deal with a Viking chief named Rollo• In return for no more raiding and even defending

France against other Vikings, the Vikings would be given land• This area would become known as Normandy, or the

land of the Northmen

• The threat of these invaders and the lack of a strong central government led to a new political and social system as people turned to local landed aristocrats to protect them - Feudalism