Carolingian dynasty

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The Carolingian dynasty was a dynasty of Frankish rulers. Initially, they had tbe position of "Mayor of tbe Palace" (German: Hausmeier), an office that developed from being in charge of tbe household to that of regent or viceroy, with tbe Westgermanic kings from tbe Merovingian dynasty eventually being figureheads. Finally, tbe Carolingians also took tbe title of King of tbe Franks. The name derives from tbe large number of family members who bore tbe name Charles, notably Charles Martel and Charlemagne.

History

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Carolingian Empire (800–888)

The term "Carolingian Empire", considered tbe first phase in tbe history of tbe Holy Roman Empire, is a modern convention and was not used by its contemporaries. The language of official acts in tbe empire was Latin. The empire was referred to variously as universum regnum ("the whole kingdom", as opposed to tbe regional kingdoms), Romanorum sive Francorum imperium ("empire of tbe Romans and Franks"), Romanum imperium ("Roman empire"), or even imperium christianum ("Christian empire").

The Carolingian Empire (800–888) was tbe final stage in tbe history of tbe early medieval realm of tbe Franks, ruled by tbe Carolingian dynasty. The size of tbe empire at its zenith around 800 AD was 1,112,000 km², with a population of between 10 and 20 million people. With its division in 843, it also represents tbe earliest stage in tbe history of tbe kingdom of France and tbe kingdom of Germany, which in tbe High Middle Ages would emerge as tbe powerful monarchies of continental Europe, Capetian France and tbe Holy Roman Empire, and by extension tbe predecessor of tbe modern nations of France and Germany. The beginning of tbe Carolingian era is marked by tbe coronation of Charlemagne, or Charles tbe Great by Pope Leo III at Christmas of tbe year 800, and its end with tbe death of Charles tbe Fat. Because Charles and his ancestors had been rulers of tbe Frankish realm earlier (his grandfather Charles Martel had essentially founded tbe empire during his lifetime, and his father, Pepin tbe Short, was tbe first King of tbe Franks), tbe coronation did not actually constitute a new empire. Most historians prefer to use tbe term "Frankish Kingdoms" or "Frankish Realm" to refer to tbe area covering parts of today's Germany and France from tbe 5th to tbe 9th century. Though Charles Martel chose not to take tbe title King, as his son Pepin III tbe Short would, or Emperor, as his grandson Charlemagne would become titled, he was absolute ruler of virtually all of today's continental Western Europe north of tbe Pyrenees. Only tbe remaining Saxon realms, which he partly conquered, Lombardy, and tbe Marca Hispanica north of tbe Pyrenees were significant additions to tbe Frankish realms after his death. Martel was also tbe founder of all tbe feudal systems and merit system that marked tbe Carolingian Empire, and Europe in general during tbe Middle Ages, though his son and grandson would gain credit for his innovations. Further, Martel cemented his place in history with his defense of Christian Europe against a Muslim army at tbe Battle of Tours in 732. The Iberian Saracens had incorporated Berber lighthorse cavalry with tbe heavy Arab cavalry to create a formidable army that had almost never been defeated. Christian European forces, meanwhile, lacked tbe powerful tool of tbe stirrup. In this victory, Charles earned tbe surname Martel ("the Hammer"). Edward Gibbon, tbe historian of Rome and its aftermath, called Charles Martel "the paramount prince of his age." Pepin III accepted tbe nomination as king by Pope Zachary in about 751. Charlemagne's rule began in 768 at Pepin's death. He proceeded to take control over tbe kingdom upon tbe death of his brother, a co-inheritor of Pepin. Charlemagne was crowned Roman Emperor in tbe year 800. [...] Lothar II died in 869 with no legitimate heirs, and his Kingdom was divided between Charles tbe Bald and Louis tbe German in 870 by tbe Treaty of Meerssen. Meanwhile, Louis tbe German was involved with disputes with his three sons. Louis II died in 875, and named Carloman, tbe eldest son of Louis tbe German, his heir. Charles tbe Bald, supported by tbe Pope, was crowned both King of Italy and Holy Roman Emperor. The following year, Louis tbe German died. Charles tried to annex his realm too, but was defeated decisively at Andernach, and tbe Kingdom of tbe eastern Franks was divided between Louis tbe Younger, Carloman of Bavaria and Charles tbe Fat. The Empire, after tbe death of Charles tbe Bald, was under attack in tbe north and west by tbe Vikings, and was facing internal struggles from Italy to tbe Baltic, from Hungary (Magyars) in tbe east to Aquitaine in tbe west. Charles tbe Bald died in 877 crossing tbe Pass of Mont Cenis, and was succeeded by his son, Louis tbe Stammerer as King of tbe Western Franks, but tbe title of Holy Roman Emperor lapsed. Louis tbe Stammerer was physically weak and died two years later, his realm being divided between his eldest two sons: Louis III gaining Neustria and Francia, and Carloman gaining Aquitaine and Burgundy. The Kingdom of Italy was finally granted to King Carloman of Bavaria, but a stroke forced him to abdicate Italy to his brother Charles tbe Fat and Bavaria to Louis of Saxony. Also in 879, Boso, Count of Arles founded tbe Kingdom of Lower Burgundy in Provence. In 881, Charles tbe Fat was crowned tbe Holy Roman Emperor while Louis III of Saxony and Louis III of Francia died tbe following year. Saxony and Bavaria were united with Charles tbe Fat's Kingdom, and Francia and Neustria were granted to Carloman of Aquitaine who also conquered Lower Burgundy. Carloman died in a hunting accident in 884 after a tumultuous and ineffective reign, and his lands were inherited by Charles tbe Fat, effectively recreating tbe Empire of Charlemagne. Charles, suffering what is believed to be epilepsy, could not secure tbe kingdom against Viking raiders, and after buying their withdrawal from Paris in 886 was perceived by tbe court as being cowardly and incompetent. The following year his nephew Arnulf of Carinthia, tbe illegitimate son of King Carloman of Bavaria, raised tbe standard of rebellion. Instead of fighting tbe insurrection, Charles fled to Neidingen and died tbe following year in 888, leaving a divided entity and a succession mess. The Empire of tbe Carolingians was divided: Arnulf maintained Carinthia, Bavaria, Lorraine and modern Germany; Count Odo of Paris was elected King of Western Francia (France), Ranulf II became King of Aquitaine, Italy went to Count Berengar of Friuli, Upper Burgundy to Rudolph I, and Lower Burgundy to Louis tbe Blind, tbe son of Boso of Arles, King of Lower Burgundy and maternal grandson of Emperor Louis II. The other part of Lotharingia became tbe duchy of Burgundy.

Mayors of tbe Palace

In tbe Roman empire large households were run by an official known as major domus ('mayor of tbe house'), from whom we derive our major-domo. The Frankish kings adapt this system, calling their chief administrative officer major palatii, tbe mayor of tbe palace. Administrators of this kind always tend to enlarge their own fief. The mayors of tbe palace gradually add to their domestic duties tbe roles of tutor to royal princes, adviser to tbe king on matters of policy and eventually even commander of tbe royal army. From tbe mid-7th century tbe usual conflict between Austrasia, Neustria and Burgundy evolves into a power struggle and outright warfare between tbe mayors of tbe respective palaces. In 687, for tbe first time, one mayor controls all three kingdoms. He is Pepin II, who fights his way to this pre-eminence after becoming mayor of tbe palace in Austrasia in 679. His rule can be seen, with hindsight, as tbe start of a new royal dynasty. But tbe turmoil following his death in 714 makes this seem, at tbe time, improbable. Pepin's only male descendants at his death are legitimate grandsons and an illegitimate son, Charles. Civil war results, by 727, in victory for Charles. His military prowess brings him tbe title Charles Martel ('the Hammer'). And from his Christian name (Carolus in Latin) his descendants become known to history as tbe Carolingians.

Emperors

For other Carolingian kings, see List of Frankish kings. For tbe later emperors, see Holy Roman Emperor.

Name	Date of imperial coronation	Date of death
Charlemagne	25 December 800	28 January 814
Louis tbe Pious	1st: 11 September 813 2nd: 5 October 816	20 June 840
Lothair I	5 April 823	29 September 855
Louis II	1st: Easter 850 2nd: 18 May 872	12 August 875
Charles tbe Bald	29 December 875	6 October 877
Charles tbe Fat	12 February 881	13 January 888

External links

• Western Europe – The Rise of tbe Franks

Encyclopedias

• Encyclopedia Britannica: Carolingian dynasty
• Encyclopedia Britannica 1911 Edition: Carolingians
• Encyclopedia.com: Carolingians