Michelle Liu 3/9/14 Period 3 Charlemagne, Father of Europe While many people have played important roles in history,

it is inarguable that Charlemagne, King of the Franks, was one of the most influential individuals in European history. Through expert military strategies, Charlemagne integrated nearly all of Western Europe under his rule, in addition to promoting education and arts, thereby encouraging the Carolingian Renaissance. A zealous defender of Christianity, Charlemagne went on to become the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. By unifying Europe and implementing widespread cultural movements, Charlemagne positively impacted the quality of life in the Middle Ages. Charlemagnes work to pull together disparate feudal states did not occur easily. When he was only twenty-six years old, he and his brother inherited the kingdom of the Franks from their father. After the death of his brother a year later, however, Charlemagne became the single leader of an almost defenseless realm neglected by its barbaric citizens. Charlemagne was determined to strengthen his empire, and so in 772 he launched a 30-year military campaign to accomplish this objective. His campaigns were swift and his armies moved at amazing speed. In fact, Charlemagnes military tactics were remarkably successful as they were later studied by the eminent French military leader, Napoleon Bonaparte. Charlemagne also waged war against the people in modern day Spain (778), Bavaria (788) and against Hungary and Austria (791-796). By 800, Charlemagne had accomplished his task. With such extensive control of his vast empire, Charlemagne was then able to improve the lives of Europeans during the Middle Ages. Another aspect of Charlemagnes influence was attributable to his strong belief in Christianity. Because Charlemagne often fought people of different faiths, he sought to convert them to Christianity. Of the people of the lands he conquered, Charlemagne, a man of strong beliefs, would not tolerate those who refused these order. For instance, he required that all Saxons, a confederation of pagan, Germanic tribes, be baptized. In fact, Charlemagne was proclaimed the Holy Roman Emperor from not only these efforts but because of his aid to the

Church. In 800, Pope Leo sought Charlemagnes protection after he was chased out of Rome for passing laws that took away power from the nobles and made the Church the single, supreme power. Charlemagne, who saw this as an opportunity to take back the rights of the people, agreed to help by ending the rebellion in Rome. In only a short period of time, Charlemagne successfully earned the Popes gratuity after stopping the uprisings in the Vatican City. In return, Pope Leo famously crowned Charlemagne the first Holy Roman Emperor in more than three centuries. Though such an honor mainly advanced the Churchs power, many people until this day view this title as one of Charlemagnes most prominent accomplishments- since many kings at that time lacked amiable relations with the Church. Hence, Charlemagne clearly affected the lives of Europeans in a positive way during the Middle Ages. As he accumulated new lands, Charlemagne began to put in place a stable central government presiding over what is now Western Europe. Many aspects of his government were innovative; for example, his use of local representative authorities. Charlemagne assigned counts in the provinces that had control over judicial, military, financial matters. These counts were governed by dukes and given property as well as a percentage of the estates earnings. Taxes were the main source of income in Charlemagnes government, and they paid for wars, construction of infrastructure and officials salaries. Much of these taxes were paid through barter. The wealth helped Charlemagne maintain peace and support progressive change while benefiting European lifestyle. Perhaps the most famous example of positive change that the emperor had on the lives of people in the Middle Ages was the Carolingian Renaissance, a cultural and intellectual revival in Europe. During his rule, Charlemagne persuaded many eminent scholars to come to his court and established a new library of Christian and classical works as well. Teachers visited Charlemagnes court in Aachen from all parts of the world: England, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Gaul and Germania. To further pursue edification, Charlemagne built a chain of royal schools that provided children of all classes to an education. Even Charlemagne himself made a concerted effort to read and write during a time period when few rulers could even recite the alphabet. This was very unusual since reading and writing was typically the work of a monk and not that of a warrior. The impetus to encourage learning led Charlemagne to become the driving force behind the Carolingian miniscule, a standardized form of writing that later became a basis for modern

European printed alphabets. And yet, education was solely a portion of what the Carolingian Renaissance helped advance. In this time, Charlemagne also improved Europeans lives by standardising weights, measures and customs dues, which helped improve commerce, and initiated important legal reforms. Many arts such as architecture, flourished as well. Characteristic of this period is the Palatin Chapel in Aachen, one of the largest dome churches north of the Alps built during Charlemagnes rule. Plainly, Charlemagnes activities led Europe into a brief period of brilliance during a time of darkness that benefited Europeans. Clearly, Charlemagne was a purposeful ruler of the Franks, who successfully united his realm and brought Europe out of a period of cultural and academic stagnation. It is inarguable that this leader who was forward in military unification and became Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire had a positive impact of the lives of Europeans. Known today as the Father of Europe, Charlemagnes influence can be observed throughout all of Western Europe.