franks control largest European kingdom
the roman province formerly known as Gal
ruled by Clovis
major Domo mayor of the palace ruled the kingdom
Charles Martel Charles the hammer
extended the franks reign to the north south and east
defeated a Muslim army from Spain at the battle of tours in 732 historic battle
Charles the hammer son
possible named for his unusual short haircut
working for and with the Pope Pepin fought the Lombard
pope Stephen 2 named Pepin king by the grace of god beginning the Carolingian Dynasty 751-987 ad
Pepin the short had two sons Carolman and Charles
Carolman died leaving
Charlemagne aka Charles the great
six foot four
built the greatest empire since Rome
fought the Muslims in Spain
Fought Germanic tribes
spread Christianity
Reunited Western Europe
Became the most powerful king in western Europe
Pope Leo 3 crowned him emperor in 800 AD after he defended him from an unruly Roman mob
this signaled the joining of Germanic power, the Church, and the heritage of the Roman Empire
charlemagne government
he limited the authority of the nobles
he regularly visited every part of his Kingdom
kept close watch on his huge estates
cultural revival
encouraged learning
ordered monasteries to open schools
opened a palace school but his heirs were weenies
his son Louis the Pious was ineffective
Louis three sons Lothair Charles the bald and Louis the German split up the Kingdom at the Treaty of Verdun in 843 AD