Frankish Rulers

The Rise of Medieval Europe

Invasions by German tribes had destroyed much of the Roman Empire

Trade slowed downCities, bridges, roads were crumblingLaw and order vanishedEducation almost disappearedMoney was no longer usedPeople stayed within tiny villages where

they were born, lived and died

By AD 500…

Because Western Europe had declined so badly, this period in history was originally called the DARK AGES

However, it is now recognized as a time of TRANSITION and the Latin words:

medium (middle) and aevum (age)were used to describe this time period

Dark Ages OR Middle Ages?

Ancient Times

Middle Ages

Modern Times

Classical Culture (Greeks and Romans)

Germanic Culture

Christian Beliefs

Roots of Medieval Culture

The Franks who settle into the areas of France and western Germany become the strongest Germanic group.

Their kings are named for the ruler Merowig.The Merovingian kings hold power until the

early AD 700’s

Merovingian Rulers

Clovis becomes king of the Franks in AD 481He is known to be a brutal and wily warriorHe became the first Germanic ruler to accept

CatholicismHis military victories and religious conversion

gave his throne stability and success.A century later, things start to fall apart when

his heirs begin fighting one another for land.Around AD 700, political power passes from…

Clovis

Kings Mayors of the palace

Charles Martel“Charles the Hammer”

became mayor of the palace in AD 741.

He defeated Muslim forces who threaten Europe.

This victory ensured that Christianity remained the dominant religion of Europe.

Other Merovingian RulersPepin the Short

•Backed by nobles and church officials, Pepin the Short (the son of Charles Martel) became king of the Franks.•He was anointed by the pope.•Because he had gotten the pope’s blessing, Pepin was expected to help the Church defeat its enemies.

Pepin’s son, Charlemagne became the Frankish king in 768AD

He was also known as Charles the Great Charlemagne doubled the borders of the

kingdom which now included Germany, France, northern Spain, and most of Italy – it was called the FRANKISH EMPIRE

Charlemagne wanted to revive education (since very people could read or write)

He educated his officials at a palace school in the capital city of Alcuin

His school helped provide western Europeans with a common set of ideas

Charlemagne

Charlemagne came to Rome and defended the Pope Leo III against Roman nobles.

As a reward, Leo crowned Charlemagne the new “Roman Emperor”

Charlemagne became the protector of the Church and ruler of much of western Europe

He relied on counts to assist him in government by solving local problem, stopping feuds, protecting the weak, and raising armies for the emperor

Royal messengers, called missi dominici, went on inspections once a year to make sure that the counts were doing a good job.

The Frankish Empire – A Christian Realm

Charlemagne’s forceful personality held the empire together until his death in 814AD

His son, Louis the Pious, could not run the empire well and when he died, Charlemagne’s three grandsons began to fight over control of the empire

The three brothers agreed to split the empire into three parts…

Collapse of the Frankish Empire

Western Region (present day France)Charles the Bald

Eastern Region(present day Germany)Louis the German

Middle Region(towards Italy)Lothair - became Roman Emperor

Charlemagne’s Empire Divided

There was a lot of internal disunity when the empire was divided up but…

There were a lot of groups that invaded the region from outside as well!

Invasions, Invasions and More Invasions

Muslims from North Africa seize Southern Italy and parts of Mediterranean Slavs march

from the East and invade central Europe

Magyars from Central Asia destroy their way westward…

From Scandinavia the Vikings traveled on their ships southward to seek riches and adventures

They were great traders, especially along the coastlines, using the sturdy ships to transport goods

They also explored and settled in many of the North Atlantic islands of Greenland and Iceland.

The Danes established the Viking state of Normandy in north-western France

The Swedes settled into present-day Ukraine and Russia

In Scandinavia, the Vikings worshipped many gods and told stories of their great deeds in epic sagas.

Viking Invasions

Invasions of Europe 800-1000

Vikings Magyars Muslims