1. Charlemagne and Feudalism

2. I. Background: The Franks
geographic location
unification under Clovis (500s CE)
strengthening under: Charles Martel
Pepin the Short (700s CE)

3. II. Origins of Feudalism
Charles Martel vs. Muslim
invaders from Spain
diffusion of the stirrup as an advantage in warfare
make-up of Frankish armies prior to 700 CE: primarily infantry
desire of leaders to acquire cavalry
problems: expensive horses, armor, & weapons

4. II. Origins of Feudalism
solution: give out land  its produce increases wealth
thus serfs are valuable, are tied to land & can’t leave but not slaves; lord protects them in war time
other fiefs: weapons/armor/horses if not enough land
in exchange for military service & fealty
thus, dukes, barons, knights (lowest vassals)

5. III. Carolus Magnus, aka Conqueror territory added to Francia
in S against
Muslim Spain
in E against Lombards
(N Italy) & Avars (E Europe)
in N against Saxons
advantage? stirrups & centralization under his control

6. III. Charlemagne B. Administrator divided kingdom into
counties; counts ruled for
king but had to swear loyalty
sent out agents to check up on counts & kingdom: missi dominici (“agents of the lord”)
managed his own royal estates
judged cases & rewarded followers
thus, Charlemagne is feudal king

7. III. Charlemagne C. Patron of Learning & Arts promoted growth of
schools
asked famous scholars &
authors to live at his court
studied & collected laws for kingdom (taught himself to read – most of you can read better than he did!)

8. III. Charlemagne D. Christian King forced pagans to convert
to Christianity
promoted growth of monasteries
was crowned “Emperor of Romans” by pope in 800  did he know about it in advance? title later became “Holy Roman Emperor”
“Christian Empire” in W united by him

9. IV. Collapse of Empire
Charlemagne’s only son, Louis the Pious, was weak; more concerned with religion than with other matters of state
Louis split empire up
among his sons:
- Charles the Bald: W
- Lothair: middle
- Louis the German: E

10. IV. Collapse of Empire
Charles & Louis fought Lothair for middle territory & split it btwn. them:
Charles ruled over “France”
Louis ruled over “Germany”  title of Holy
Roman Emperor went with this part
feudalism spread from Franks all across Europe, despite collapse of their empire
persisted in places like Russia until the late 1800s