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Period: Feb 6, 700 to
Carolingian
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Oct 10, 732
The Battle of Tours
The Muslims (Moors) were looking to expand their empire so they planned to attack Charels Martel and his army. Martel was ontop of a large, wooded hill, forcing the Moors to fight uphill. Neither forces attacked until the Moors became too impatient and their infantry attacked. The Franks stayed strong and managed to force the Moors to retreat. This is one of the few times in history that an infantry withsood a mounted attack. -
Sep 8, 756
Donation of Papal States
Pepin the Short traveled to Italy to protect Pope Stephen II against the Lombards. After defeating them, Pepin gave the Pope the Papal States as a gift. This area included Rome, Ravenna, and Perugia. -
Jan 1, 771
Death of Carloman
When Pepin the Short died, his two sons were head of the empire, there were many tensions between the two, and they communicated through their mother. Carloman suddenly died in 771, and so Charlemange took over as the sole ruler. He would spend the next 45 years expanding his empire. -
The Bloody Verdict of Verdun
Charlemange defeated the Saxons and in doing so forced them to swear an oath of loyalty to him. In 782 he caught a large group of them worshipping their false gods. Charlemange arrested 4,500 Saxons and had them beheaded. The river was said to run red with blood for days after. -
Charlemange's Coronation
On Christmas Eve, 793 Pope Leo III, crowned Charlemange. He said, 'Hail to Charlemange the August, crowned of God, and the great peace-bringing emperor of Romans!' Charlemange was officially the Emperor of Rome.