1. Charlemagne: King of the Franks, Emperor of the Romans

2. Charlemagne  Charlemagne’s wars of expansion, diplomatic contacts and new administrative techniques brought great wealth to his court and enabled an intellectual revival (the “Carolingian Renaissance”).  At the same time, his realm re- imagined the Western Roman Empire; Charlemagne is the first “Roman Emperor” in the West since Romulus Augustulus in 476  Charlemagne is regarded as the “founder” of both France and Germany and his legacy as a builder and shaper of Europe is especially noteworthy this year, the 1200 th anniversary of his death. Coin of Charlemagne: inscription reads KAROLVS IMP AVG

3. The Rise of the Carolingian Family  Merovingian Kings lose power and authority (late 7 th /early 8 th cent)  Charles Martel (Charles the Hammer): 686- 741 (Battle of Poitiers/Tours in 732)  Pepin the Short: 714-768 (crowned K. of Franks in 754)  Carolus (Charles) and Carloman, sons of Pepin: Share power in 768; kingdom reunited under Charles in 771  Charles: r. 768-814. Reliquary for Charlemagne’s skull, Aachen Cathedral, c. 1350

4. “New Rome” built in Aachen, modeled on Constantinople Palatine Chapel, like a miniature Hagia Sophia

5. Dome, Palatine Chapel

6. Rome, Christmas Day 800: Charlemagne’s Imperial Coronation  Crowned “Roman Emperor” by Pope Leo III in Rome, on Christmas Day, 800  Title used exclusively by Byzantine Emperors; Charlemagne was first western ruler to be “Roman Emperor” since 476  Popes needed protection  Issues with Byzantine Emperors  Byzantines were surrounded by enemies of their own (Islamic Empire, Slavs)  Popes wanted to assert independence (by “creating” their own emperor)  From the perspective of the Pope, the Byzantines were becoming odd

7. The “Carolingian Renaissance”  Intellectual Revival  International movement of scholars: Einhard (Frank), Alcuin of York (Northumbrian)  Palace School founded at Aachen under Alcuin; Monastic schools founded at Fulda, Tours, St. Gallen  Emphasis on writing and literacy in service of religion  Intellectual Trends  Copying of Texts (done as part of daily labor at monasteries): 50,000 books copied during ninth century  Encyclopedic accounts (massive compilations of everything known, Hrabanus Maurus)  Monastic reform and regularization (promotion of the Rule of St. Benedict )

8. Right: Byzantine, early 6 th century Left: Carolingian, Aachen, early 9 th century Ivory Plaques

9. Coronation Gospels, Gospel of Matthew (Aachen, 800-810)

10. Ebbo Gospels (Hautvillers, 9 th cent) Gospel of Mark, below

11. The Empire after Charlemagne  Charlemagne dies in 814, Empire passes to only surviving son, Louis the Pious  Louis the Pious (814-840)  Oaths of Strasbourg (842) and Treaty of Verdun (843)

12. Next Class  Monday: Second Short Essay is due (assignment is on Blackboard)  Read Bald’s Leechbook and Bede’s Life of Cuthbert (both on Eres and Blackboard)