Impact of Charlemagne on Western Europe
The kings were slowly losing their power in the Frankish kingdom during the seventh and eighth centuries and mayors were gaining control of the kingdom. Pepin who was one of these mayors decided to take control of the Frankish kingdom. After he died his son Charlemagne took over his father’s position and came to the throne of the Frankish kingdom. Charlemagne also known as Charles the Great was a powerful ruler and had a major impact on Western Europe. He was strong militarily and expanded the Frankish kingdom, created a Carolingian Renaissance, and had a close relation with the Catholic Church.
Charlemagne during his rule significantly expanded the Frankish kingdom and created the Carolingian Empire. He made expansion a normal thing in Western Europe. He ended up taking fifty-four military campaigns. These battles took him all over Europe. His campaigns against the Saxons in Germany between the Elbe River and the North Sea were difficult battles. He was successful in these wars and ultimately captured all of Germany. He also conquered some areas in the south. He defeated the Lombards in northern Italy and invaded parts of northern Spain. He later conquers Bohemia to enlarge his empire. In 800 there was an uprising against Pope Leo III. Charlemagne who was strong militarily went to help Pope Leo III and defeated the rebellion. Pope Leo III wanted to thank Charlemagne for his help so he crowned him on Christmas Day as emperor of the Romans. Being given the title of emperor did not give Charlemagne additional powers, but it helped represent the unification of Roman, Christian, and Germanic values. He had the Catholic Church on his side. He began to organize his empire like his father Pepin. The empire was very large, so he had help from his household staff and counts as his chief representatives in local areas. Missi dominici were the messengers of the king that were sent out to regions to make sure the counts were...