Germans Battle of Adrianople Ostrogoths (East Goths) & Visogoths (West Goths) Huns “Little Daddy” (Atilla) Huns conquer East Goths
Adrianople West Goths = fear (ask Rome for help) Rome = settle just inside the frontier Tension begins (taxes, prices, kidnapping) West Goths rebelled = battle Adrianople 410 Alaric looted & sacked Rome
Adrianople West Goths move Spain (Roman territory) Vandals (also in Spain) Goths win = drive out competition Vandals flee to N. Africa
Adrianople Became pirates = vandalism 455 Vandals attack Rome = win Lead to fall of Rome 476 Odoacer = new emperor Ruled 15 years (killed by Theodoric) Rome = 6 major German kingdoms
The Franks Established along Rhine River Became farmers Divided into separate groups No ruler until 481
Clovis Cruel & greedy Brought all Franks under one rule Part of kingdom = France 1st Germanic king to accept Catholicism
Clovis becomes Christian Prayed = didn’t help win battles Win = “I convert” Clovis + 3,000 covert after war Gained support from Romans Latin became new language Pope & church gave support Clovis set up capital = France
The Franks Charles Martel – “The Hammer” Began career as a Mayor (Mayor = noble & most important official in king’s household) Wanted to reunite all Frankish nobles under his rule “The Hammer” = strength in battle 732 led Franks in battle of Tours (defeated Muslims)
The Franks Pepin – son of Charles Martel & father of Charlemagne 1st Frankish king to be anointed (blessed w/ holy oil) Aided the Pope to defeat the Lombards (central Italy) Died 768, divided the kingdom between his two sons
The Franks Charlemagne Becomes King after brothers death Wanted to control all W. Europe Convert all Germanic into Christians? Waged wars to achieve this Defeated Lombards (N. Italy) Defeated Saxons Muslims in Spain
Wooden throne
Christian Empire Most powerful leader W. Europe Close ties w/ church Hired church to keep records Act against church = act treason 12/25/800 = declares Charlemagne emperor Created many law reforms Established counts
Education Could not read or write Wanted his people educated
The Franks Louis the Pious