Charlemagne

Charles the hammer's son - Pepin the Short

1. Possibly named for his unusual short haircut
2. Working for and with the pope, Pepin fought for the bombards
3. Pope Stephen II named Pepin "king by the grace of God" - beginning the Carolingian Dynasty
4. 751-987 AD
5. Pepin the Short had two sons: Carolman and Charles
6. Carolman died, leaving Charlemagne takes center stage

Charlemagne - Charles the Great

1. Six foot four
2. Built the greatest empire since Rome
3. Fought the Muslims in Spain
4. Fought Germanic tribes
5. Spread Christianity
6. Reunited western Europe
7. Became the most powerful king in western Europe
8. Pope Leo III crowned his emperor in 800 AD after he defended him from an unruly roman mob
9. This signaled the joining of the Germanic power, the church, and the heritage of the roman empire

Charlemagne's Government

1. He limited the authority of the nobles
2. He regularly visited every part of his kingdom
3. Kept close watch on his huge estates
4. Cultural revival
1. Encouraged learning
2. Ordered monasteries to open schools
3. Opened a palace school
5. His son Louis the Pious was ineffective
6. Louis' three sons - Lothair, Charles the bald, & Louis the German - split up the kingdom at the treaty of Verdun in 843 AD