module 1 Flashcards
fall of the western roman empire?
476
clovis i
first king of the franks from 481-511
united the frankish tribes
converted to christianity in 496
laid the groundwork for medieval europe
theodoric the great
king of the ostrogoths and ruler of italy from 493-526
maintained roman administrative structures and integrated roman gothic customs
religious tolerance
substantial legal and administrative reforms
aethelbert of kent
ruled britain from 589-616
first anglo-saxon king to convert to christianity, leading to the establishment of the church in england and the creation of one of the earliest written law codes, the law of aethelbert
king leovigild
ruled spain from 568-586
consolidated visigothic rule in spain
military campaigns to unify the region and standardised legal and religious practices
laid groundwork for future spanish unification
charles the great
charlemagne
king of the franks from 768-814, later becoming emperor of the carolingians
military conquests, educational reforms and support for the church
initiated the carolingian renaissance
revival of art, culture and learning, showing his commitment to governance and intellectual advancement
harald fairhair
first king of norway from 872-930
unified norway
justinian i
byzantine emperor from 527-565
tried reconquering lost western territories
corpus juris civilis, a comprehensive codification of roman law, which influenced legal systems throughout europe
alfred the great
king of wessex from 871-899
defended his kingdom against the vikings
promoted learning, literacy and compiled laws
dagobert i
ruled the franks from 629-639
merovingian king, marking the last period of merovingian strength before the carolingians
centralised royal power, established strong administrative control and expanded the frankish kingdom
louis the pious
charlemagne’s grandson
reigned from 814-840
expanded and consolidated the carolingian empire
internal conflicts and revolts from his sons
promoted carolingian culture and religious reforms
duke mieszko i
reigned in poland from 960-992
converted to christianity in 966
cnut the great
ruled a north sea empire comprising denmark, norway and england from 1016-1035
stability, prosperity, effective governance, promotion of christianity and legal reforms
otto i
holy roman emperor from 936-973
consolidated german states
victory over the magyars at the battle of lechfield in 955, securing the eastern borders and solidifying his power
establishment of the holy roman empire in 962
rollo
viking chieftain and first ruler of normandy 911-936
granted land in modern france in 911 by charles the simple
established the duchy of normandy, which played a crucial role in the norman conquest
stephen i
first king of hungary from 1000-1038
converted to christianity
hugh capet
king of france in 987
established the capetian dynasty, which would rule for centuries
consolidated royal power and established a stable line of succession
why did european monarchs feel they needed to consolidate their power?
viking invasions in the 9th and 10th centuries
reconquista in spain
treaty of verdun
843
charlemagne divided his empire between his 3 grandson, leading to distinct political entities
underscored the importance of hereditary succession and the challenges of maintaining a unified realm
norman conquest
1066
william the conqueror defeated king harold ii at the battle of hastings, established a new and more structured form of monarchy
domesday book
1086, william the conqueror
assessed the wealth and resources of the kingdom, helping william assert control and keep track of tax collection
investiture controversy
11th and 12th centuries
conflict between papacy and european monarchs over the appointment of church officials
concordat of worms in 1122 allowed monarchs to retain some influence over church appointments, whilst recognising the popes authority
crusades
began in 1096
expanded the influence of the kings, bringing wealth and prestige
establishing crusader states in the holy land provided new territories and titles, boosting prestige of the nobility
hundred years war
between england and francce from 1337-1453
underscored a strong need for hereditary succession to maintain order and stability
battle of castillon in 1453 marked france victorious, showcasing their power by removing the english from most of spain, apart from calais
set stage for the war of the roses
war of the roses
conflict between houses of york and lancaster for power
1455-1487
highlighted the consequences for unclear dynastic succession
led to the tudor dynasty
ended with the defeat of the yorkist army at the battle of stoke field
