Charlamgne

Ry Lac

HST 207

11/21/2013

Charlemagne: The Father of Europe

Often called the “Father of Europe”, Charlemagne’s establishment of the Holy Roman Empire left him as the most influential leader in early medieval Europe. The creation of the empire began with his territorial expansion that can be credited to his military dominance. Charlemagne wanted to unite the vast territory in which he acquired during his many conquests. This unity was first achieved through the reform of the highly neglected field of education. The reform of education brought with it more unity and stability among the Frankish Kingdom. The revival in quick learning and thinking led to what has became known as the Carolingian Renaissance. Furthermore, through the implementation of governmental reforms, Charlemagne was able to maintain his control and ensure further unity among his large kingdom. By appointing counts throughout Europe and his way of governing them through the use of missi dominici, along with the help of the Roman Catholic church, a governmental unity that was intertwined with spiritual unity helped in the creation of the Holy Roman Empire. Under Charlemagne, the Frankish Kingdom grew into an Empire that possessed a unity unseen since the time of the great Roman rule.

The establishment of Charlemagne’s empire can in large part be attributed to territorial expansion. When Charlemagne’s rule began in 768 C.E. the growth of his kingdom began immediately and continued throughout his reign. This expansion was due to Charlemagne’s achievement in the art of warfare. The success is evident through the many military campaigns that the Frankish army was a part of, and their incredible successful conclusions of battle. A few key victories included the conquering of the Lombards, a crucial win over the Saxons, and the annihilation of the Avars (Geary, pg. 235). Charlemagne’s military victories were numerous, and the result of these victories was the expansion of territorial governance....