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Oct 10, 732
Battle of Tours
The Moors had already conquered Spain and were planning to continue to expand their empire. There was one person that stood in their way who was Charles Martel. The Moors attacked Martel and his forces held firm. The Moors were defeated and returned to Spain. This is one of the very few times in history that an infantry force withstood a mounted attack. -
Jan 1, 751
Pepin the Short becomes King
Pepin the Short was the son of Charles Martel. Pepin the Short asked the Pope to officially name him king of the Franks. Pope St. Zachary agrees and so St. Boniface anoints him. In exchange for papal support, Pepin protects the Pope. * specific month and date unknown. In 754 Pepin keeps his promises and protects the Pope from the Lombards. He successfully defeats the Lombards and gives the pope a gift. The gift is the Papal States. -
Dec 4, 771
Death of Carloman
Pepin the Short has two sons: Carloman and Charles (Charlemagne). In 771 Carloman dies which leaves Charlemagne as the sole leader. Charlemagne continues to expand the empire and is not once defeated over 50 conquests. -
The Bloody Verdict of Verdun
4500 Saxons were arrested because they were worshiping false gods and attacking Charlemagne’s forces. These 4500 men had broken the oath of loyalty they swore to Charlemagne. All of the men that were arrested were beheaded and it is said that the local river ran red with blood for days. -
Charlemagne’s Coronation
Charlemagne defeated the Lombards in 793 AD which made him the first person to unite all of the Germanic kingdoms. In 799 AD, Pope Leo had been mistreated by the romans so he escaped and fled to Charlemagne. He asked Charlemagne to intervene in Rome and restore him. In November of 800 AD, he travelled to Rome to investigate. On Christmas day, Charlemagne was anointed as “Emperor of Rome” by Pope Leo III in St. Peter’s Basilica.
