Life of Charlemagne

By jb21215
  • 740

    Introduction

    Introduction
    This timeline is to show the general important events of Charlemagne's life from his birth to death Charlemagne was also known as Charles the Great and was a key figure in history as he founded the Holy Roman Empire and strengthen European economic and political life as well as the cultural revival.
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  • Period: 742 to 771

    Early Life

    Charlemagne is known to be born in 742 BCE-747 BCE and speculated to be born in Aachen. as there was not a lot of information d. He was the son of Pepin the Short, King of the Franks who had begun the rule of the Carolingian Empire and wife Bertrada of Laon. Pepin died in 758 BCE and the empire was divided amongst his two songs, Charlemagne and Carloman. Charlemagne's brother soon after died as well leaving Charlemagne as the sole King and the start of his reign.
  • 773

    Conquest of Lombardy

    The Lombard King, Desiderius, wanted the lands back from the time Pepin the Short had gained control of the land in 754. Charlemagne did not want to give the land back. His wife also happened to be Desiderius's daughter. Charlemagne sent his wife back since he did not need Lombardy's alliance anymore and then he invaded Lombardy and conquered the lands. He then declared himself the new King of Lombardy.
  • 778

    The Battle of Roncevaux

    Charlemagne had his first military defeat. He had been attacked by the Basques as a way of retaliation for Charlemagne's destruction of the city walls of their capital, Pamplona. They were attacked while on a high mountain pass in the pyrenees on the border between France and Spain. This battle was also record thorough a French literature piece called the Song of Roland. This was written centuries after the battle and mythologizes the real events that had occurred.
  • 782

    Massacre of Verden

    Massacre of Verden
    The Massacre of Verden was an event during the Saxon wars where Charlemagne sent out for the bloody execution of around 4,500 Saxons. This occurred in Verden which now part of Germany. He wanted them to convert to Christianity or be slaughtered. He believed it to be a necessary act for Europe to be united under Christianity.
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  • 787

    Education Reform

    Education Reform
    Charlemagne saw education as a very important factor in his Kingdom. Therefore Charlemagne ordered priests to set up schools based on the teachings of the church. He also wanted schools in monasteries. He also tried to make sure that all the children under his territory had the ability to go to a public school. Charlemagne also protected literature and had monks and nuns make copies to preserve it. Overall the education reform allowed economic and social gaps to close more.
  • 788

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  • 791

    Frankish-Avar War

    Frankish-Avar War
    The Avars were the people controlling the central Danube and had been accumulating wealth by raiding and plundering the neighborhoods there. Charlemagne and his son, Pepin, fought in a war with them as they wanted to expand their land and also want control. In a long war it resulted in the lost of the Avars and they were subjugated.
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  • 800

    Holy Roman Empire

    Holy Roman Empire
    Charlemagne was crowned emperor of the Romans on December 25, 800 by Pope Leo III in St.Peter's Basilica, Rome. He was recognized as Charlemagne promoted Christianity by giving money and land to the churches as well as protecting the popes. Charlemagne's power helped create harmony within his kingdoms as it was under the same laws of Christianity.
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  • 804

    Saxon War Ends

    Saxon War Ends
    The Saxon War finally ends as it lasted more than 3 decades of campaigning. This long period of time had led to the annexation of large block of territory between he Rhine and the Thine and the Elbe rivers. There were many hardships as there was mass killings and pillaging. This all occurred in order to convert the people from Germanic Paganism to Christianity. The Saxons eventually agreed to Charlemagne's ideas and followed through and remained at peace after.
  • 805

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  • 813

    Louis the Pious

    Charlemagne crowned his son Louis the Pious as his last surviving successor. Louis was also the king of Aquitaine and ended his reign after four decades. By this time Charlemagne had grown the kingdom into a large empire.
  • 814

    Death

    Death
    Charlemagne was buried at the cathedral in Aachen. Later on his empire was divided up among his heirs and by the late 1800s had dissolved. Charlemagne like his name was a great ruler and managed to create a great empire with education reforms and create common law among his people through christianity. Photo citation