Pin It

Brief History of Carolingian Empire

writer009 | Nov 19, 2010 |

1 Comments | Rating: 1

Intro

Carolingian Empire refers to the Frankish Realm (today's France and Germany) under the Carolingian dynasty. Most historians use the term for the period from coronation of Pepin the Short in 751 to deposition of the last ruler of united Carolingian Empire, Charles the Fat in 887. However, the Carolingian dynasty ruled East Francia (Germany) until 911 and West Francia (France) intermittently until 987.

Carolingian Empire refers to the Frankish Realm (today's France and Germany) under the Carolingian dynasty which ruled from 751 to 987 when the last Carolingian monarch of West Francia (the later Kingdom of France) died without a male heir. Charles Martel (ca. 688-741) is traditionally viewed as the founder of the Carolingian dynasty but it was his son Pepin the Short who deposed the last Merovingian King Childeric III with papal support and officially started the rule of the Carolingian dynasty in 751.

Like his father Charles Martel who is best known for defeating the Muslim forces in the Battle of Tours in 732, Pepin the Short was de facto ruler of the Frankish Kingdom as Mayor of the Palace long before he became the first Carolingian king. Pepin the Short also became the first (known) ruler to receive a papal coronation. Pope Stephen II anointed him at the Cathedral Basilica of St Denis in Paris, France.

On Pepin's death in 768, the Frankish Realm was divided between his sons Carloman I and Charlemagne but the latter became the sole King of the Franks after Carloman's sudden death in 771. The Carolingian Empire reached its height during the reign of Charlemagne (768-814) who extended the Frankish Realm to much of Western and Central Europe, and Italy. On Christmas Day (December 25) in 800, Pope Leo III crowned him as Emperor of the Romans in Rome.

Carolingian Empire started to decline already under Charlemagne's son and successor Louis the Pious (814-840). Louis' sons Lothair II, Louis the German and Charles the Bald divided the territory of Charlemagne's Empire into three kingdoms - Middle Francia, East Francia and West Francia with the Treaty of Verdun in 843. Middle Francia was after Lothair's death divided between his brothers Louis the German and Charles the Bald.

Carolingian Empire was once again united under Charles the Fat in 884 but he was deposed already three years later. Charles' nephew, Arnulf of Carinthia (887-900) who was elected King of East Francia (the later Holy Roman Empire) managed to establish a formal authority in West Francia and was crowned emperor. His successor Louis the Child (900-911) was a minor on his death and could not establish even a formal authority in West Francia that was ruled by Charles the Simple. Louis the Child died without a male heir in 911 and the Carolingian rule in East Francia came to an end. In West Francia, the Carolingian dynasty ruled intermittently until 987 when the last Carolingian king Louis V died without a male heir.

Carolingian Empire is traditionally considered a precursor of the Kingdom of France as well as the Holy Roman Empire. Rulers of the Holy Roman Empire viewed themselves as direct successors of Roman Emperors and pursued the policy of revival of the Roman Empire (at least in theory) until the empire's dissolution in 1806.