- Franks control largest European Kingdom
- the Roman Province formerly known as Gaul
- Ruled by Clovis- the Merovingian Dynasty
- Major Domo- mayor of the palace- rule the kingdom
- Charles Martel- Charles the Hammer
- Extended the Franks' reign to the north, south and east
- Defeated a Muslim army from Spain at the Battle of Tours in 732- historic battle
- Charles the Hammer's son- Pepin the Short
- possibly named for his unusual hair cut
- working for and with the Pope, Pepin fought for the Lombards
- Pope Stephen II named Pepin "king by the grace of God"- the beginning the Carolingian Dynasty- 751-987 AD
- Pepin the Short had two sons- Carolman and Charles
- Carolman died, leaving Charlemagne
Charlemagne takes the stage
- Charlemagne aka Charles the Great
- 6'4 height
- built the greatest empire since Rome
- Fought the muslims in Spain
- Fought Germanic tribes
- Spread christianity
- Reunited Western Europe
- Became the most powerful king in western Europe
- Pope Leo III crowned him emperor in 800 AD after her defended him from an unruly Roman mob
- this signaled the joining of Germanic power, the church, and the heritage of the Roman Empire
- Charlemagne's government
- He limited the authority of the nobles
- he regularly visited every part of the kingdom
- kept close watch on his huge estates
- cultural revival
- encouraged learning
- ordered monasteries to open schools
- opened a palace school
- but his heirs
- his son- Louis the Pious was ineffective
- Louis' three sons - Lothair, Charles the Bald, and Louis the German- split up the kingdom at the Treaty of Verdun- in 843 AD
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