Carolingian Empire

Pepin II Death

714

Pepin II dies and there is a power struggle for the Mayor of Austrasia due to Charles Martel being an illegitimate child of Pepin II. Pepin’s wife Plectrude has Charles Martell imprisoned. Charles Martel escapes from incarceration and gathers supporters and is proclaimed mayor of Austrasia.

Death of Charlemagne

714

With the death of Charlemagne, the power of emporer is transferred to his son Louis I. Charlemagne left behind an established kingdom with established economic and educational systems.

Battle of the Tours

732

Battle of the Tours- During the battle Battle of the Tours, Charles the Hammer Martel leads the Frankish Kingdom against the Muslim invasion of Europe. The kingdom and Martel are successful in repelling this invasion and as a result, Martel brings together a centralized authority in the kingdom.

Charles Martel Death

741

With the death of Charles Martel in 741 there is a transfer of the Mayor position to his sons Pippin III and Carloman. Charles Martel has a third illegitimate son Grifo who will battle for power but is later imprisoned and later killed.

Pippin III

747

With the decision by Carloman to enter a monastic life leaving Pippin III as sole ruler of the Franks. In 751 Pippin III is anointed by Pope Zacharias as King the first by the papacy of a Frank ruler.

Death of Pippin III

771

With the death of Pippin III, the kingdom is divided amongst his two sons Charlemagne and Carloman. Carloman dies suddenly a few months later leaving sole leadership of the kingdom of Carolingian to Charlemagne.

The Expansion of the Empire

774

Charlemagne begins his siege on pagan civilizations to include the Saxony and Lombardy beginning to expand the Frankish empire. In doing so Charlemagne brings Christianity to these areas leaving them with religious influence.

Charlemagne Emperor of Rome

800

Pope Leo III comes to Charlemagne and asks for help after a rebellion begins against him. The rebellion is defeated by Charlemagne and in reward for his assistance, Charlemagne is named as emperor of the Romans.

The Division of the Empire

817

Louis I divides the territory of rule amongst his sons, his eldest son Lothar became co-emporer. Pepin and Louis II were assigned subordinate roles as kings over areas. This is the beginning to the civil unrest that will begin in the following years.

The Carolingian Civil War

823

Louis I attempts to additionally add fourth son Charles to his will infuriating his other three sons. This decision leads to the Carolingian civil war. The fourth son that Louis I was attempting to add to the will is Charles III who will play an influence in the fall of the empire.

Treaty of Verdun

843

Treaty of Verdun this treaty ends the Carolingian civil war, but this treaty split the empire into three separate areas ruled by Charles, Louis, and Lothar. This can be viewed as the begging of the end to the empire which will continue to be fractured with generations.

Death of Lothar I

855

Lothar I dies and the area under his control is divided under him is divided amongst his three sons. They then decided to further fragment the area into their own three separate areas of rule.

Treaty of Meersen

870

When Lothar I died without any living heirs and his brothers campaigning the land of his rule was left for separation of his land between his two uncles Charles II and Louis II. This redefined the boundaries established by the Treaty of Verdun.

Charles II's Death

877

At the time of his death, Charles II held the title as the Roman Emporer, dealing with invasions on many fronts Charles was unable to continue his dynasty and his kingdom was passed onto his son Louis II.

Death of Charles III

888

Charles III was crowned as the Roman Emporer, briefly, he was able to reunite the Carloginian Empire but he later bought peace with surrounding Vikings which was not looked upon as noble. Upon his death the dynasty crumbled and would never be rebuilt.