The Early Middle Ages | Charlemagne (Lecture 14)

Lecture 14: The Carolingian Empire reached its territorial and military high watermark during the very long reign of Charlemagne. His conquests of northeastern Spain, northern Italy, and Germany between the Rhine and Elbe Rivers made the Carolingian Empire the most powerful Christian state on the European continent. Indeed, Charlemagne himself, with the cooperation of Pope Leo III, revived the title of emperor in 800, thereby resurrecting the possibility that Europe, or most of it, would henceforth always have a single overlord. The title of emperor conferred great prestige upon Charlemagne, but it also conferred great problems on the Carolingian dynasty more generally. Indeed, within 30 years of Charlemagne’s death, the Carolingian Empire broke apart.

Suggested Readings:
Donald Bullough. The Age of Charlemagne. G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1966.
Roger Collins. Charlemagne. University of Toronto Press, 1998.
Richard Sullivan. “The Carolingian Age: Reflections on Its Place in the History of the Middle Ages.” Speculum 64 (1989): 267–306.

Lecture 15: https://www.bitchute.com/video/TmdiGVusfxs4/