| Karl der Große: Charlemagne |
His empire became far greater than the Byzantine, surpassed in scope only by the realm of the
Abbasid caliphate, but suddenly Germany had to protect itself against the Norse, who raided the
Frisian coast, and against the Slavs on their murderous rampages. Because of this danger, he divided
his empire in 806 among his three sons: Pepin, Louis, and Karl. Pepin died in 810, Karl in 811,and
only Louis remained. In 813, Louis was elevated from the rank of king to that of emperor, and his
father, by then age 72 and in the 47th year of his reign, said: “Blessed be Thou, O Lord God, Who
hast granted me the grace to see with my own eyes my son seated on my throne!” Four months later,
Karl der Grosse died and was buried under the dome of the cathedral at Aachen, dressed in his
imperial robes. He was Carolus Magnus, Karl der Grosse, Charlemagne.
Abbasid caliphate, but suddenly Germany had to protect itself against the Norse, who raided the
Frisian coast, and against the Slavs on their murderous rampages. Because of this danger, he divided
his empire in 806 among his three sons: Pepin, Louis, and Karl. Pepin died in 810, Karl in 811,and
only Louis remained. In 813, Louis was elevated from the rank of king to that of emperor, and his
father, by then age 72 and in the 47th year of his reign, said: “Blessed be Thou, O Lord God, Who
hast granted me the grace to see with my own eyes my son seated on my throne!” Four months later,
Karl der Grosse died and was buried under the dome of the cathedral at Aachen, dressed in his
imperial robes. He was Carolus Magnus, Karl der Grosse, Charlemagne.
Charlemagne led his armies and sent his armies far. He subdued the unruly Saxon heathens, giving
them a choice between baptism or death, resulting in the beheading of 4,500 of them in one day. He
drove back the advancing Slavs, defeated the Avars, and by the thirty-fourth year of his reign, he
could resign himself to peace until his death in 814. He bestowed a governmental structure and
unifying faith upon Western Europe which had been torn by religious and political strife for years,
and he managed to bring all of the people between the Vistula and the Atlantic, the Baltic and the
Pyrenees, nearly all of Italy and much of the Balkans under his rule.
them a choice between baptism or death, resulting in the beheading of 4,500 of them in one day. He
drove back the advancing Slavs, defeated the Avars, and by the thirty-fourth year of his reign, he
could resign himself to peace until his death in 814. He bestowed a governmental structure and
unifying faith upon Western Europe which had been torn by religious and political strife for years,
and he managed to bring all of the people between the Vistula and the Atlantic, the Baltic and the
Pyrenees, nearly all of Italy and much of the Balkans under his rule.
Through the Capitulare missorum, the people of Francia had their own guarantee of equality, justice
and freedom from tyranny four centuries before England’s Magna Carta was established. Under
Charlemgane's enlightened rule, conscientious effort was made to transform barbarism into
civilization through legislation pertaining to most aspects of civilized living from religion to
government. A great bridge was built across the Rhine at Mainz to produce active trade and a stable
currency was maintained. He even established a system of relief for the poor with taxation on the
nobles and the clergy to pay its costs.
and freedom from tyranny four centuries before England’s Magna Carta was established. Under
Charlemgane's enlightened rule, conscientious effort was made to transform barbarism into
civilization through legislation pertaining to most aspects of civilized living from religion to
government. A great bridge was built across the Rhine at Mainz to produce active trade and a stable
currency was maintained. He even established a system of relief for the poor with taxation on the
nobles and the clergy to pay its costs.
He called in foreign scholars to restore the schools of France and then organized the royal palace at
Aachen as a teaching facility by sending for teachers from England and elsewhere, turning the palace
school into an active center of study and the birthplace of educational reform that spread throughout
the realm. Even Charlemagne himself was an eager pupil, as well as his family. While he studied
Latin, he continued to speak German, and he compiled a German grammar and collected specimens
of early German poetry. Out of his schools came the university system of Europe. Charlemagne was
profusely generous to the Church, but also made himself its master, yet he also had open negotiations
with Moslem rulers suggesting fair treatment of their respective minority populations.
Aachen as a teaching facility by sending for teachers from England and elsewhere, turning the palace
school into an active center of study and the birthplace of educational reform that spread throughout
the realm. Even Charlemagne himself was an eager pupil, as well as his family. While he studied
Latin, he continued to speak German, and he compiled a German grammar and collected specimens
of early German poetry. Out of his schools came the university system of Europe. Charlemagne was
profusely generous to the Church, but also made himself its master, yet he also had open negotiations
with Moslem rulers suggesting fair treatment of their respective minority populations.
What we know as the Holy Roman Empire was born of a noble vision of world
peace, order and civilization. German rulers of the nineteenth-century were
enamored of the memory of Charlemagne. In 1843, Prussian king Friedrich Wilhelm
IV had Charlemagne's tomb opened. His bones were still intact, except for part of
the right arm, and his living height was calculated just over 6 feet. In 1861, 1874,
and finally 1906 it was opened again. His throne, left
peace, order and civilization. German rulers of the nineteenth-century were
enamored of the memory of Charlemagne. In 1843, Prussian king Friedrich Wilhelm
IV had Charlemagne's tomb opened. His bones were still intact, except for part of
the right arm, and his living height was calculated just over 6 feet. In 1861, 1874,
and finally 1906 it was opened again. His throne, left
Einhard's "The Life of Charlemagne"1880: "Charles was large and strong, and of lofty stature, though not
disproportionately tall (his height is well known to have been seven times the length of his foot); the upper part of his head
was round, his eyes very large and animated, nose a little long, hair fair, and face laughing and merry. Thus his appearance
was always stately and dignified, whether he was standing or sitting; although his neck was thick and somewhat short, and
his belly rather prominent; but the symmetry of the rest of his body concealed these defects. His gait was firm, his whole
carriage manly, and his voice clear, but not so strong as his size led one to expect. His health was excellent, except during
the four years preceding his death, when he was subject to frequent fevers; at the last he even limped a little with one foot.
Even in those years he consulted rather his own inclinations than the advice of physicians, who were almost hateful to him,
because they wanted him to give up roasts, to which he was accustomed, and to eat boiled meat instead. In accordance
with the national custom, he took frequent exercise on horseback and in the chase, accomplishments in which scarcely any
people in the world can equal the Franks. He enjoyed the exhalations from natural warm springs, and often practised
swimming, in which he was such an adept that none could surpass him; and hence it was that he built his palace at
Aixla-Chapelle, and lived there constantly during his latter years until his death. He used not only to invite his sons to his
bath, but his nobles and friends, and now and then a troop of his retinue or body guard, so that a hundred or more
persons sometimes bathed with him."
disproportionately tall (his height is well known to have been seven times the length of his foot); the upper part of his head
was round, his eyes very large and animated, nose a little long, hair fair, and face laughing and merry. Thus his appearance
was always stately and dignified, whether he was standing or sitting; although his neck was thick and somewhat short, and
his belly rather prominent; but the symmetry of the rest of his body concealed these defects. His gait was firm, his whole
carriage manly, and his voice clear, but not so strong as his size led one to expect. His health was excellent, except during
the four years preceding his death, when he was subject to frequent fevers; at the last he even limped a little with one foot.
Even in those years he consulted rather his own inclinations than the advice of physicians, who were almost hateful to him,
because they wanted him to give up roasts, to which he was accustomed, and to eat boiled meat instead. In accordance
with the national custom, he took frequent exercise on horseback and in the chase, accomplishments in which scarcely any
people in the world can equal the Franks. He enjoyed the exhalations from natural warm springs, and often practised
swimming, in which he was such an adept that none could surpass him; and hence it was that he built his palace at
Aixla-Chapelle, and lived there constantly during his latter years until his death. He used not only to invite his sons to his
bath, but his nobles and friends, and now and then a troop of his retinue or body guard, so that a hundred or more
persons sometimes bathed with him."
He was so fond of his six daughters that he talked them out of marriage, and they consequently
consoled themselves with a variety of love affairs and bore many illegitimate children, which
Charlemagne accepted with affection, since he himself had four successive wives and five mistresses
who bore him eighteen children, of whom only eight were legitimate. He was said to be moderate in
his eating and drinking and maintained good health . He rarely entertained, and instead greatly
enjoyed music and a good book. He had almost a clairvoyant intelligence, extreme vitality, unbridled
enthusiasm for science, law, literature, and theology; he mocked superstition yet employed
soothsayers. He spoke directly and honestly, and was kind, charitable and emotional, yet he could
be ruthless when required, especially in regard to spreading Christianity.
consoled themselves with a variety of love affairs and bore many illegitimate children, which
Charlemagne accepted with affection, since he himself had four successive wives and five mistresses
who bore him eighteen children, of whom only eight were legitimate. He was said to be moderate in
his eating and drinking and maintained good health . He rarely entertained, and instead greatly
enjoyed music and a good book. He had almost a clairvoyant intelligence, extreme vitality, unbridled
enthusiasm for science, law, literature, and theology; he mocked superstition yet employed
soothsayers. He spoke directly and honestly, and was kind, charitable and emotional, yet he could
be ruthless when required, especially in regard to spreading Christianity.
The Moslem governor of Barcelona asked for his help in defeating the
caliph of Cordova, another Moslem, and in the year 777, Karl led the
army across the Pyrenees until he realized he had been deceived. As he
led his army back through the mountains, the Basques attacked his rear
guard and killed nearly every man in the squad led by Karl's nephew
Roland, a battle which became immortalized in song and story. In 795,
Karl returned and conquered part of northeast Spain before again
assaulting the persistent Lombards in Italy, a feat for which Pope Leo
III crowned him Emperor of the Romans on Christmas Day in 800 AD.
caliph of Cordova, another Moslem, and in the year 777, Karl led the
army across the Pyrenees until he realized he had been deceived. As he
led his army back through the mountains, the Basques attacked his rear
guard and killed nearly every man in the squad led by Karl's nephew
Roland, a battle which became immortalized in song and story. In 795,
Karl returned and conquered part of northeast Spain before again
assaulting the persistent Lombards in Italy, a feat for which Pope Leo
III crowned him Emperor of the Romans on Christmas Day in 800 AD.
Charlemagne made military service a condition of owning land and created a system of knighthood
and noblemen, along with a whole code of moral behavior in order to build a strong military. Building
upon the Roman system of feudalism, Charlemagne enabled this new noble military class to ensure
the well-being of serfs who would in turn provide and supply the needs of the nobleman and his
militarily. In this well planned society, Charlemagne can be considered the Father of Feudalism. He
formed a structured society based on public participation in the government with assemblies of armed
property owners, and he respectfully delegated various individual responsibilities to all.
and noblemen, along with a whole code of moral behavior in order to build a strong military. Building
upon the Roman system of feudalism, Charlemagne enabled this new noble military class to ensure
the well-being of serfs who would in turn provide and supply the needs of the nobleman and his
militarily. In this well planned society, Charlemagne can be considered the Father of Feudalism. He
formed a structured society based on public participation in the government with assemblies of armed
property owners, and he respectfully delegated various individual responsibilities to all.
It was Charlemagne who first attempted to organize his kingdom by dividing his power with various
levels of government: an aristocrat appointed as Count controlled the lords and nobles who in turn
controlled the serfs or peasants on the fief of each knight. The counts took care of administrative
tasks and supervised Church business and an appointed Bishop headed a diocese within certain
borders. In those areas where there were potentially volatile situations, Charlemagne appointed a
Margrave. By his formulation of the Chapters of Legislation, once a year they all traveled to the
king's court at Aachen to convene and to discuss governmental business. Here they presented items
for oral vote (out of the jurata, a custom in ninth century Frankish lands where a sworn group of
inquirers was used to decide many local issues from land ownership to criminal guilt, came the jury
system of modern times). In between these meetings, Charlemagne traveled to the various capitals
of the region, and held assemblies of the nobles where they would hash things out and come to
agreement on various issues. They also shared a good time with much joking and talking. To fill in
the gap between meetings, he created a group of emissaries called the missi dominici who travelled
throughout the kingdom hearing complaints, making sure that things were running smoothly and
collecting taxes.
levels of government: an aristocrat appointed as Count controlled the lords and nobles who in turn
controlled the serfs or peasants on the fief of each knight. The counts took care of administrative
tasks and supervised Church business and an appointed Bishop headed a diocese within certain
borders. In those areas where there were potentially volatile situations, Charlemagne appointed a
Margrave. By his formulation of the Chapters of Legislation, once a year they all traveled to the
king's court at Aachen to convene and to discuss governmental business. Here they presented items
for oral vote (out of the jurata, a custom in ninth century Frankish lands where a sworn group of
inquirers was used to decide many local issues from land ownership to criminal guilt, came the jury
system of modern times). In between these meetings, Charlemagne traveled to the various capitals
of the region, and held assemblies of the nobles where they would hash things out and come to
agreement on various issues. They also shared a good time with much joking and talking. To fill in
the gap between meetings, he created a group of emissaries called the missi dominici who travelled
throughout the kingdom hearing complaints, making sure that things were running smoothly and
collecting taxes.
Karl der Große was born of German blood and German language at a
place unknown. He could speak ancient Teuton, Latin and Greek and
he became king at age twenty-nine. Karl, the second son of Pepin the
Short and Bertrada, was born in 751. In 754, Pepin convinced Pope
Stephen II to crown him in exchange for defending Italy against the
Germanic Lombards, a tribe occupying central and northern Italy. Karl
saw war as a child riding with his father's army, and he would continue
to personally lead men into battle throughout 53 campaigns.
place unknown. He could speak ancient Teuton, Latin and Greek and
he became king at age twenty-nine. Karl, the second son of Pepin the
Short and Bertrada, was born in 751. In 754, Pepin convinced Pope
Stephen II to crown him in exchange for defending Italy against the
Germanic Lombards, a tribe occupying central and northern Italy. Karl
saw war as a child riding with his father's army, and he would continue
to personally lead men into battle throughout 53 campaigns.
| His Government |
| His Persona |
