The Frankish Kingdoms

1
The Frankish Kingdoms
2
Review

• The Roman Empire in the west collapsed in the
  fifth century A.D. because of invasions of
  Germans
• The bishop of Rome (the pope) was the most
  influential bishop in western Europe, but did not
  govern the church in the same way he governs the
  Catholic church today

3
Questions

• What elements composed early medieval culture?
• Even though Charlemagne was the most powerful
  king of the early middle ages, what limits were
  there on his power?
• How did the great invasions destroy the Frankish
  Empire?

4
Chronology

• Early Middle Ages (476-1000)
• 476 Last Roman Emperor in west deposed
• 768-814 Reign of Charlemagne
• 793 Viking Raids on England Begin
• High Middle Ages (1000-1300)
• 1076-1122 Conflict between king and pope over lay
  investiture
• Late Middle Ages (1300-1450)
• 1347-1350 The Black Death

5
(No Transcript)
6
Early Medieval Culture

• Combination of Germanic, Roman, and Christian
  elements
• Germanic
• comitatus (retinue)
• Oral custom
• Roman
• Latin language
• Roman literature
• Written law
• Christian
• Church fathers
• Franks and Israelites
• Monasticism

A monk writing a book
7
Cover, Landau Gospels
8
Cross of Lothar 10th c.
9
(No Transcript)
10
The Franks

• German tribe that established the longest-lasting
  kingdom in western Europe
• Clovis (r. 482-511)
• Converted to Christianity, allied his kingdom
  with the church

Frankish Nobleman and Retinue
11
Charlemagne (r. 768-814)

• Most powerful Frankish monarch
• Problems
• improving Church
• governing large empire
• maintaining loyalty of aristocrats

12
(No Transcript)
13
How Charlemagne Governed

• Younger years traveled from place to place
• When older, settled at Aachen
• Counties
• comes (count)
• Missi Dominici
• Traveling supervisors and judges
• Alliance with the church
• A.D. 800 Pope Hadrian crowns him Emperor and
  Augustus
• The Carolingian Renaissance

Chapel at Aachen
14

15
Merovingian
Carolingian
16
Great Invasions

• In the 9th and 10th centuries, Carolingian rulers
  had trouble defeating bands of invaders
• Vikings
• Magyars
• Arab Pirates
• Europe presented an inviting target to invaders
  looking for easy plunder

Viking Chessmen
17
Great Invasions, 9th-10th c.
18
(No Transcript)
19
Vikings