Growth Carolingian Power Initial Military Success example essay topic

Charles Martel 715 41, Pippin 741 68 and Charlemagne 768 814 Politically conservative, stale Merovingian kingdom in 6th and 7th centuries. 688 o 714 Pippin II reestablishment political consensus on Francia growing solidarity of next 3 generations inspired by war success under Carolingians Francia position dominance in Western Europe. Charlemagne Romanized Frankish culture, anointed emperor continuity in terms of local rule. Changes German speaking lands east of the Rhine became integrated into the kingdom, new impetus central government, stronger ties kings magnates, loyalty and military service, dukes less likely to go own wat rulers for the first time could make statements about nature public authority Charles creates power bloc and concentration of treasure strong anything else in Europe take on other areas of the country one by one 20 years spent enforcing his claim to hegemony. Charles the Hammer succession battles Saxony, BavariamAquitane, Burgundy all getting power need to rally around external threats helped community reintegrate around Carolingian leadership opportunistic war lords around country after turmoil of 714 lay bishops etc, easy for Ch Mart with resources Austrasia and Neustria behind him.

Growth Carolingian power initial military success allowed Martel to take advantage of balance of power reputation for despoiling church lands and settling warriors on them establishing control 8th century Francia reducing power independent lordships, confiscating resources replacing with allies not systematic taking of church lands Strengthened power by count, abb o, bishops counts yes a lot from own imperial aristocracy but continuity between Merovingian aristocracy too Carolingians whole generation to show worth engrained that Clovis descendants could be king of Franks Charles Martel still needed Merovingian mouthpiece. Charles Martel and successors proved themselves in war against other peoples increasingly with religious zeal 0 Arabs, Frisians, Saxons all non-Christian invaders lead territorial gain 741 Charles Martel dies, last 5 years without a King, and can give royal property away but succession crisis so not foregone conclusion that he could given power to sons. Divides Kingdom between Carol man and Pippin 3rd son different wife caused problems. Dukes Aquitaine, Alemannia, Bavaria try to throw off Carolingian power Child eric Merovingian king raised to thrown to show legitimacy Carolingian rule. Carloman dies Pippin releases Griff flees to Saxons and beats him again deep into Eastern Saxony Pippin beats him again firmer Frankish hold over Bavaria Tass ilo new Duke Pippin spends last years life trying to destroy Aquitainian independence. 751 miliatrily Pippin impossible to beat, strengthen association kingship by associating themselves reform of the church to legitimize power needed divine authority Boniface cemented links between Franks and the Papacy.

Lombard pressure on the Romans needed new ally reality endorsed rather than enabled by the Pope, religious backing to royal authority, furthered later. Pippin continued war every year Saxons Aquitaine 53 Pope Stephen II winters Franks makes sure Carolingians only ruling family Francia ties family St. peter to that of Pippin eternally Franks fight to protect papal interests 755,756 two low key campaigns against Aist ulf (Lombard King) pushing not conquering once military power in hands of Pope only a matter of time before Lombards commit sufficient offence for independence to be crushed 774.753 and 758 fought Saxons - always raided deep into but religion and comms ade conquest impossible this stage needed a generation, genocide and deportations could not be attempted until Aquitainian independence crushed 759 768 to crush Aquitainian independence, since late 7th century independent Dukes and churches, so needed to rid of Dukes, ecclesiastical reform, recover royal property, re instituting ecclesiastical immunities, installing Frankish garrisons Pippin dies 768 no Carolingian succession crisis Charles and Carloman agreed division. Under Pippin Francia stronger than ever before boundaries not stretch much further more power than Clovis especially east of Rhine Hesse, Thuringia, Alemannia and Bavaria diocesan structure like west Rhine Bavaria native leader by submitted to P 3 Saxony independent and Frisian largely untouched. Power of Francia massive conglomeration peoples and territories, never lacked warriors, militarization society, assertion central control over military forces, so not used for internal conflict, rebuilt central government from the palace more government material, clerical reform into welfare of people military power, government activity and church reform grow once civil war dies out and consensus and coordination of resources returns leader, with logistical genius, Charlemagne. 768 71 ruled jointly Carloman long reign, via annals and capitularies packed military activity, government reform of church and government Beat Aquitainian early on back only once in 778 on route to Italy, in Neustria doesnt got there much, itineraries by military activity residences near eastern frontier zones campaigns Saxony lasted a whole generation, richer pickings easily n Italy in 774 responds to request from pope Hadrian U help against Lombards king of Lomabrds, rebellion then Frankish counts in and rich source patronage, further into papal politics conflict and proximity to Byzantium horizons expanded contact enemies neighbours so contact Abbasid caliphate and Slavs (Saxons).

Charlemagne all out war with Saxons 772 always attacked when Charlemagne another battle strength of empire reflects Charlemagnes energy as he rushes around kingdom with mobilising force and energy. Loyalty, orders of government crucial increasingly ideological proclamations and legislation also military glory and favour for the elites who competed for royal power. 792/3 crisis at Pippin the Hunchback Charlemagnes on rebels as do Saxons (after fighting for Franks), Arbs, Firs ians and Salvs Charlemagne ruthlessly end Pippin massive victory with deputations etc in 796 end Saxons resistance incorporation Saxony into Frankish political and ecclesiastical order. 794 Synod of Frankfurt reaffirm Christian form of government even during crisis.

Tasislo deprived Bavaria seemingly bloodless campaign Avar kingdom massive coup, without control Avars Bavaria and Italian border of Friuli never secure, 20 years Avars main power central Europe 791 careful preparation Charlemagne invaded Avar kingdom with massive army of Franks, Saxons, Frisians and Bavarians little resistance, never came civil war and peoples under their control fled 796 Frankish forces plundered Avar ring complex fortifications treasure fabulous wealth increase wealth Franks. New wealth used to influence others begins to take Roman characteristics, commissions Frankish definition of orthodoxy, use of images in worship, condemnation Adoption ist heresy Charlemagne as leader of Western Christendom, new capital residence at Aachen built Roman architecture crowned Emperor 800 humility of great and god by Einhrad not want the title does not attach that much importance to it, great reforming capitulary 802 nothing much new. Older more reliant on three sons and less prominent military activity: advances Spain 801, Bohemian Salvs 805-6, Byzantines, although beating C in Dalmatia 812, made peace recognised him as emperor toward end reign increasingly concerned getting military service and support magnates les swilling to support ageing leader when spoils dried up campaigns against the Danes far from profitable by 811 Louis the sole heir of Charlemagne crowned Emperor in Aachen 813 no pope entire kingdom to Louis in 814 on Charlemagnes death. Thankful to father and grandfather for preparing ground for success directing, like Arabia, forces of civil war outwards never mastered art of living in peace 786-7 Charlemagne travels 3,500 kilometres did growth territory under single authority lead to more systematic approach to government Optimistic view cpaitulaires and written government implies innovative institutions esp. missi ombudsman and scabini or experts in law to supplement amateur worthies in localities more scientific law Ties of loyalty to master etc, religious mandate officers persuaded to do public duty Romanesque, although no direct taxation. Pessimisitc view no evidence of missi or scabini in practice, no new substantial government structure grew, plunder ad tribute sustained growth, lack of structure exposed when empire stopped expanding, magnates fight each other instead of plunder, but was Saxony that rich, monetary gain from was that good, war not just elites peoples from everywhere canal digging not just aristocratic work out.

Capitularies some intentions, ideals others orders reflect is revival of intellectual and religious activity in conjunction with growth in power of the rulers revival, reform and expansion went hand in hand and elite benefited from them declared aim to create a justly governed society collective wisdom to live with spiritual norms. cleansing Christian community strengthen hands of rulers at every turn. Reform church directed as strengthening brief of state intervention in the individual no effort to stop kings use church lands, or giving monasteries out, reform government tighter control of subordinates. education taught understanding of commands as well as of scripture church still important standardisation an coordination of religious and culture life strengthened hegemony of the state over these areas 794 no new veneration's saints cult of saints official list unlike Carolingians start of period reinforce identity and independence with association with saints. Single authority replaced confederations, strands Christian culture gathered together basically conservative nature of culture, unmoving social order custom outweighed innovation when reforming kingdom 814 as in 714 power on the ground in hands of counts, bishops who preserved social order protecting property. society could not be reformed, nor basic structures government changed Franks pulled together mobilise massive power as long as Carolingian part of consensus it too was powerful efforts made to maximise production, big estate management, written records of lands sued to highlight Charles Martel plunder increase revenue and yield help to revive depressed economy during gap when ware fare less profitable more of what Lords needed without participating in politics who benefits from that turn in political economy important question of European history.