Franks Flashcards
What 2 factors mark the Franks out, compared to the other post-Romanic kingdoms?
- Least Roman of all
2. Were not refugees, probably natives
Who was the first king of France, and when did he rule?
Clovis, 509-511
Where was Clovis’ capital?
Tournai, Belgium
Who was Clovis’ father?
Childeric
When was Clovis baptised?
496
Which Germanic kingdom did Clovis conquer?
Thuringia
Which Merovingian king ruled 629-639?
Dagobert I
Where did Dagobert I conquer?
Frisia
Which 3 groups did Dagobert I have contact with?
- Germanic Saxons
- Anglo Saxons
- Slavs
Which group did Dagobert fail to conquer? What happened instead
Saxons; he forced them into submission
Describe the extent of Frankish territory at the end of Merovingian rule
France, Belgium, Holland, Germany to Bohemia, Switzerland
Where was Austrasia?
East Frankia, up to the Mosel
Where was Neustria?
West Frankia, up to the Mosel
Where was Merovingian Burgundy?
Central and Southern Frankia
What position did the Pepinid dynasty traditionally hold?
Maiordomus
Explain the etymology of Charles
Germanic; linked to jarl, ceorl, earl
Whom did the Pope call “regulus”? What does that term mean?
Charles Martel, little king
Who fought the Umayyads at Tours, and in which year?
Charles Martel, 732
Who crowned Pepin the Short? What was special about this?
Pope Stephen; first papal trip north of the Alps
How did Pepin the Short come to power?
Peacefully, with popular support and papal approval
When did Charlemagne rule?
768-814
Where was Charlemagne’s capital?
Aachen
Who crowned Charlemagne? When and where?
Pope Leo II, Rome, Christmas day 800
Who did Charlemagne’s Papal alliance help?
Both parties:
Pope needed military backing
Charlemagne needed prestige
Which ancestor of Charlemagne had previously tried to seize power, and when?
Grimoald, late 600s
What relationship with education did Charlemagne have? 3 things
- Tried to read and write
- Revived latin
- Monks copied classical texts
Which three Roman authors survive thanks to Charlemagne?
Tacitus, Livy, Cicero
Where was learning centred?
Monasteries
What three forms of prestige did Charlemagne take advantage of?
Military, religious and Roman
Which five areas/peoples did Charlemage conquer?
- Lombards
- Avars
- Bavarians
- Saxons
- Barcelona
How did Charlemagne intend to split his realm?
- North to Charles
- Lombardy & Bavaria to Pepin
- Aquitaine to Louis
What three consequences of hereditary rule appeared?
- more castles
- start of siege warfare
- less royal power
Which 3 raiders took advantage of internal problems?
- Vikings
- Hungarians
- North Africans
What 2 internal problems caused crisis in late Frankia?
Size & diversity
Who succeeded Charlemagne, and when did he rule?
Louis the Pious, 814-840
What hampered Louis the Pious’ succession?
He had sons from two wives
When was the Treaty of Verdun signed?
843
What did the Treaty of Verdun dictate?
Splitting of the kingdom:
- Charles the Bald gains the West
- Louis the German gains the East
- Lothair gains the middle
When did the Carolingian dynasty come to an end?
987
Which dynasty succeeded the Carolingian dynasty?
Capetians
Why was Lotharingia a failure?
No natural or historical basis
