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Jan 1, 732
Battle of Tours
Charles Martel encamped on a wooded hill and forced the moors to fight uphill into the trees. After 6 days of waiting, the moors attacked but Martel's forces held them off. This was a great military victory and one of the few times in history that an infantry force withstood a mounted attack. -
Jan 1, 754
The Pope anoints Pepin and his 2 sons
Pope St. Steven II travels to France and anoints Pepin the Short and his sons. He lets Pepin know that he expects protection in exchange for official Papal support. Also in this year, Pepin defeats the Lombards and gives the Pope the Papal states. -
Jan 1, 771
Charlemagne becomes sole ruler
Charlemagne's brother, Carloman dies, leaving Charlemagne as the sole ruler of the Franks. He becomes known as "Charles the Great" or in latin, "Carolus Magnus" thus "Charlemagne." He then spends the next 45 years trying to expand his empire. -
Bloody Verdict of Verdun
In 782, Charlemagne arrested 4500 Saxon rebel leaders who had been worshipping false gods. He had all of these men beheaded.
People say the local river ran red with their blood for 3 days. -
Charlemagne's Coronation
On Christmas day, Pope Leo III anointed Charlemagne as "Emperor of Rome." This did not go over well in the East. Charlemagne's biographer claimed that he had no knowledge that this was going to happen and the if he had known, Charlemagne would have never entered the church that day.
