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Charlemagne’s World
Charles the Great or Charlemagne (Carolus Magnus) (742 - 814 CE) began his rule as King of the Franks in 768 CE, after his father’s death (Pepin the Short). He co-ruled with his younger brother Carloman I for three years until the latter’s mysterious death in 771. Upon his brother’s demise, Charlemagne assumed full reign of the kingdom and had his marriage to Desiderata, daughter of the Lombard king Desiderius, annulled. The marriage had taken place a year earlier (770), forming an alliance to protect his southern Italian borders.
With both his brother and wife out of the way, he was free to launch a war against the Lombards at the urgings of Pope Adrian I. This occurred as Gerberga, widow of Charlemagne’s recently deceased brother, fled to Lombardy seeking protection from the Lombard king.
Charlemagne would remain at war until he had conquered and converted most of Central Europe, just before he would be crowned “Holy Roman Emperor” (“Sanctus Karolus Magnus - Imperator Romanorum”) by Pope Leo III. Central to Charlemagne’s coronation is the fact that he was crowned by the Pope, with the Pope making Charlemagne its emperor instead of the emperor making the church his state religion. This was a de facto nullification of the previous "Pontifex Maximus" role inherent in the title. There is some debate as to whether Charlemagne knew he was to be crowned while at prayer. A point that remains irrelevant since he could have refused the crown. He did not. Moreover, the Pope and Charlemagne knew each other. Therefore, the Pope must have become aware of Charlemagne’s marital infidelities and illegitimate children before "Holy" anointment. No doubt they came to some agreement of amicable coexistence at some point.
Unlike ongoing Muslim expansions, Charlemagne expressed no religious tolerance. Long after the battles were fought, he would be rounding up pagans and members of rogue Christian sects. It was convert or die for consenting adults. Adolescents family members would be sent off to either monasteries or convents. His execution of 4,500 Saxon prisoners, at Verden an der Aller in Germany, remains a hallmark in Christian bloodletting on European soil.
The conquering Muslims were, for the most part, desert Bedouins used to travel, never tied to one location. Coming from the desert, they were impressed by the vast water and agricultural resources found in the West. By comparison, the agriculturally influenced inhabitants of the former western Roman Empire might not have traveled more than five miles in any direction during their entire lives.
This mobile life style of the Bedouin warriors must have awakened a spirit of adventure and wonder. To some extent, Europeans embraced the Muslim preoccupation with water, as the Muslims introduced gravity feed water fountains, watermills, water purification and, for the first time ever, soap. Going hand in hand with water was the Muslim need for cleansing before prayer, five times daily. Conversely, individuals staying in one spot waiting for a potato to grow, while sleeping with barnyard animals, must have come as a considerable shock to the eastern conquerors.
However, unlike the Muslims, Charlemagne had a greater pre-knowledge of those he conquered. They were after all western, with easily understood habits and land attachments. Language differences were not that great. Critical to Charlemagne's campaigns was advance intelligence of his targets obtained from missionary monks belonging to a church he had close ties to. This latter point would prove to be decisive.
CLICK HERE for more on Christian/Muslim similarities "Comparing Islam and Christianity"
Commentary
Unlike the Muslim hoards and their relatively new religion, Charlemagne was not just spreading faith, he was escorting an established, eighth century old church tradition that included clergy, sacred rites, churches, monasteries and all the logistic and administrative support required to make it run smoothly. Add to this a public, church-run education system that Charlemagne himself had fathered, as well as the Carolingian Capitulary of government run legislation and administration, and you have the makings of a comprehensive cultural rebirth, a central European Renaissance.
Once conquered and converted, Charlemagne’s subjects stood on the threshold of enlightenment, prosperity and economic security. A developed lifestyle that would soon be available throughout Europe that had previously been restricted within the city limits of Rome and Constantinople. It would be the makings of Western Civilization, a civilization that would revive itself a few centuries later with mathematics, architectural engineering and sciences obtained from Muslim lands after the crusades.
Click here for 11) The "Wholly Roman" Empire
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Carolus Magnus
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| Charlemagne |
With both his brother and wife out of the way, he was free to launch a war against the Lombards at the urgings of Pope Adrian I. This occurred as Gerberga, widow of Charlemagne’s recently deceased brother, fled to Lombardy seeking protection from the Lombard king.
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| Click to Enlarge |
Charlemagne would remain at war until he had conquered and converted most of Central Europe, just before he would be crowned “Holy Roman Emperor” (“Sanctus Karolus Magnus - Imperator Romanorum”) by Pope Leo III. Central to Charlemagne’s coronation is the fact that he was crowned by the Pope, with the Pope making Charlemagne its emperor instead of the emperor making the church his state religion. This was a de facto nullification of the previous "Pontifex Maximus" role inherent in the title. There is some debate as to whether Charlemagne knew he was to be crowned while at prayer. A point that remains irrelevant since he could have refused the crown. He did not. Moreover, the Pope and Charlemagne knew each other. Therefore, the Pope must have become aware of Charlemagne’s marital infidelities and illegitimate children before "Holy" anointment. No doubt they came to some agreement of amicable coexistence at some point.
Religious Intolerance
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| Executions of Non-Christians |
East vs. West Conquests
Similarities between the conquests of Charlemagne and Muhammad are striking. Both expanded their empires beyond old Roman frontiers. Eradication of paganism was their shared highest priority. Both were establishing and expanding their faith, and both felt they were on a mission from God. From a social standpoint, both would contribute substantially to education, arts and engineering. |
| Arab Teaching Geometry to Westerner |
Muslim Influences
Charlemagne's Europe would be further shaped by the influence of the advancing forces of Islam. The inherent culture transfer initiated by the Muslim conquests consisted of a certain amount of awe and wonder that would continue over the entire period of Islamic expansion. However, not all encounters would be aggressive. Europeans, including traveling monks, would wander into Arab territories and vice versa.The conquering Muslims were, for the most part, desert Bedouins used to travel, never tied to one location. Coming from the desert, they were impressed by the vast water and agricultural resources found in the West. By comparison, the agriculturally influenced inhabitants of the former western Roman Empire might not have traveled more than five miles in any direction during their entire lives.
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| Waiting for Potatoes to Grow |
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| Cultural Example of Carolingian Renaissance |
Carolingian Renaissance
Like Constantine, 500 years before him, Christians (particularly the church) embraced Charlemagne as a messianic hero, establishing and expanding the faith. Unlike Constantine, Charlemagne took his vision one step further and considered himself responsible for the salvation of all whom he conquered. No one can doubt Charlemagne's level of commitment. The conquests and the bloody executions were simply a personification of the belief that he was put on earth to, like the Muslim hoards, to eradicate paganism.However, unlike the Muslims, Charlemagne had a greater pre-knowledge of those he conquered. They were after all western, with easily understood habits and land attachments. Language differences were not that great. Critical to Charlemagne's campaigns was advance intelligence of his targets obtained from missionary monks belonging to a church he had close ties to. This latter point would prove to be decisive.
CLICK HERE for more on Christian/Muslim similarities "Comparing Islam and Christianity"
Commentary
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| Eighth Century Christians |
Once conquered and converted, Charlemagne’s subjects stood on the threshold of enlightenment, prosperity and economic security. A developed lifestyle that would soon be available throughout Europe that had previously been restricted within the city limits of Rome and Constantinople. It would be the makings of Western Civilization, a civilization that would revive itself a few centuries later with mathematics, architectural engineering and sciences obtained from Muslim lands after the crusades.
Click here for 11) The "Wholly Roman" Empire
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Got Feedback?
Comments? Questions? Corrections? Any feedback at all? Just click on the comments box at the bottom of this page and enter your thoughts. All comments are welcome.
Santuario de Guadalupe, the oil painting by Tom Mallon. This 42" x 22" canvas is the latest addition to the Santa Fe Portrait Series. The Santuario is the oldest shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe in the US.
Visit this later update by CLICKING HERE
Shostakovich and Cultural Snobbery, Could anyone survive Stalin's Purges, compose a large body, write for himself and the masses while producing constantly great work?
Visit this later update by CLICKING HERE
Tom Mallon's website "MallonArt". This website will provide you with links to all his paintings, drawings and other artwork portfolios, including the ongoing series entitled the Santa Fe Portrait.
Visit this later update by CLICKING HERE
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