Coronation of Charlemagne Flashcards
How did Charlemagne conquer?
He removed all rivals until Frankish kingdom was under his control. He had a remarkable talent for violence.
He conquered North Germany, North spain, attacks brittany etc. He expanded his empire to the East with Hungary, war like leader extraordinary success. He was a potent force
The Franks dominate people in western Europe and his conquests allowed him to rule.
When was Charlemagne crowned?
768 AD.
How did Charlemagne rule?
He tried to rule as well as conquer.
Tried to impose system of government to enable this.
Bishops, secular figures, regional officers were all integrated into his own command structure.
Importance of oaths and writing (for communication as rules were directed by tongue or words).
He had a place of central rule Aachen (in the middle of his kingdom).
The papacy and Charlemagne?
The pope had no armies as Christianity frowns upon this. There are threats - byzantine weakening and their is a theological division within.
The Frankish king was compelled to support.
Charlemagne and Roman empire?
He was interested in its memory. This was the time of the Carolingian renaissance. He bought renowned scholars like Alcuin of York, whilst Charlemagne sees himself as seperate from Roman empire he would like to bring elements back/ blend with christian traditions.
The elephant was a prestigious gift from Harun al-Rashid, what is the symbolism behind this?
That Charlemagne was recognised globally, the leading figure in the ex Roman world.
What happened to Charlemagne renaissance?
Never going to work, could not recreate a western Roman Empire. It was doomed to faill
What does his coronation symbolise?
The connection between Roman empire and Western Europe legacy.
Pater Europae
Father of Europe/ Charlemagne 9thc onwards.
When was Charlemagne imperial coronation?
800
The pope needed protection and by being linked to the pope, Charlemagne was culturally linked to Roman emp.
Charlemagne become emperor but he regrets involving himself in the Church.
This date is a landmark for history of European self-awareness/ break from antiquity by means in an attempt to reconstruct it.
