1. By the time King Clovis died in 511, he had ruled most of what is now France...
His ancestors (called MEROVINGIANS) ruled, not peacefully, as kings for 275 years...
By 700 AD, the Merovingian kings had dwindled. In 714, Charles Martel ruled. He then passed his power on to his son, PEPIN THE SHORT.
Pepin the Short and the CHURCH needed each other. The pope needed protection from the Lombards who threatened Rome, and Pepin was declared, ìKing by the grace of Godî by the Pope.
*IMPORTANT because now kings were not simply political rulers but had spiritual authority as well.
Pepin conquered the Lombards and gave the pope ìkeysî to different Italian cities--these were called PAPAL STATES (Papal Monarchy develops)
2. CHARLEMAGNE
A. Pepin died in 768 and left the strengthened Frankish kingdom to his son, Charles. He was called Charles the Great, or Charlemagne (in French). He ruled for 46years. His descendants were known as the Carolingians
*6ft 4, mustache, loved sports, fought on the front line with his soldiers.
B. Christianity-- He not only encouraged missionaries but sometimes used ìbaptism by the swordî--offering his enemies baptism on the spot or death.
C. He used nobles (called COUNTS) to govern his kingdom. BUT he need to limit their power... They administered justice and raised armies. He sent out ëMISSI DOMINCIí -- or emissaries of the master to see that counts governed justly and did not abuse their power. He also visited parts of his kingdom to keep them loyal.
D. Charlemagne revived learning
His court became the center of learning. He hired scholars and made his own children, and other children at the court go to a palace school. He ordered monasteries and cathedrals to open schools to train future monks and priests. (boys only). They increased their liberties now, too.
E. Pope made Charlemange emperor-
In 800, Pope Leo 3rd crowned him emperor. BUT no one knows what that means-- no one but the pope and Charlemagne know the true reasons or consequences of becoming emperor.
F. Charlemagneís heirs ruled weakly
He died in 814. His oldest ruled until 840 but did so very ineffectively. Louisí 3 sons divided up the kingdom 3 ways (after fighting a civil war) in the TREATY OF VERDUN.
G. After the treaty... the Carolngian kings were powerless to invaders-- Muslim pirates, Magyars, and the most dreaded of al....the VIKINGS...