Formation and Collapse of the Carolingian Empire

Formation and Collapse of the Carolingian Empire

• The Carolingians were a Frankish noble family that replaced the Merovingians as the royal dynasty (usurped the throne).

• The Carolingians created a new political system that was neither the empire of ancient Rome nor a Barbarian kingdom. To maintain their empire they fashioned new political structures while appealing to a legacy of the imperial Roman past.

The Carolingian Dynasty

• Charles Martel, Mayor of the Palace

• Pepin the Short, King of the Franks (751-768 C.E.)

• Charles the Great (Charlemagne), (768-814)– Brother Carloman died 771– Crowned “Emperor of the Romans” 800 C.E.

• Louis the Pious (814-842)

• I. Building an Empire

• II. The Disintegration of Empire

• III. The Dark Ages and the beginning of Feudalism

I. Building an Empire

• 1. Military Expansion – Against Saxons (Northern Germany); Lombards (Italy)

• 2. An Alliance with the Bishop of Rome

• 3. Governing without a state or regular taxation – missi dominici (itinerant judges)– Appointed counts as regional administrators and military

leaders (counties)– Oaths of fidelity– Monks for literate scribes and advisors

II. The Disintegration of Empire

• 1. Internal Divisions and Centrifugal Forces– Problem of empire as private property– Partition of Verdun 843 (C.E.)– Rebellion by local counts and lords (milites)

• 2. External Invasions (Ninth and Tenth centuries)– Vikings (Norsemen, Northmen, Rus)– Magyar (Established in Danube River Valley)– Muslim Pirates raids along Mediterranean coasts

“Age of Viking Expansion”

• Annals of St. Bertin– Charles the Bald king of Western Franks pays extortion

money to Vikings (845)– Local lords such as Odo count of Paris led defense (also

bishops )

• Chronicle of St. Denis– Rollo the Norman (Northman) received the Duchy of

Normandy from Charles the Simple (c. 911)– Oaths of fidelity among warlords and bishops– Vikings/Scandinavians Convert to Christianity

• As a consequence of the disintegration of the Carolingian political order and the subsequent invasions, people during the tenth century began to seek protection from local warlords/landlords (milites) who assumed responsibilities once vested in royal authorities.

III. Dark Ages (late 9th and 10th centuries) and Early Feudalism

• 1. Decentralized Power; weak monarchs; petty lords control local areas

• 2. Lord and Vassal Relations (vassalage)– Voluntary personal ties of loyalty and dependence

between free warriors sealed by oaths

• 3. The Fief (and the benefice)– Grants of property or jurisdiction

– Heavy armed cavalry (stirrups, saddles, lances)

– Fortresses and simple Castles

• 4. Confusion of Loyalty and Obligations

• 5. The Manor and Manorialism (Seigneurialism) Seigneur/Señor/Lord

• 6. Serfs and Peasants– Increase in Agricultural Production

• Heavy plow, shoulder yoke, and three-field rotation– Provided their lord with portion of annual agricultural production– Tied to the land, but could not be dispossessed– Provided labor services to their lords (in place of taxes)

Lords/Vassals

• God

• King

• Duke

• Count: William of Aquitaine/Fulk of Anjou

• Bishop: Gerald of Limoges/Gilbert

• Viscount: Boso/Ralph

• Lord: Joselin/Hugh/Aimery/Bernard

The Demise of the Carolingian Dynasty

• East Frankish Kingdom (the Kingdom of Germany– Otto I Duke of Saxony chosen king 936

• Battle of Lechtfeld 955 defeats Magyars• Imitates Charlemagne 962

• West Frankish Kingdom (the Kingdom of France)– Hugh Capet Count of France chosen king 987

• Duke of Lorraine

The End of Saxon Rule in England

• Cnut Prince of Denmark– King of England (1016), Denmark (1018), and

Norway (1028)

• Edward the Confessor – Regains throne from Cnut’s son (1042)

• William Duke of Normandy becomes king of England – Battle of Hastings 1066 CE

• http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Map_France_1030-fr.svg