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Oct 10, 732
The Battle of Tours
The Muslims wanted to expand their empire after conquering Spain. However they were stopped by Charles Martel and his troops on top of a hill. After being defeated, the Moors returned back to Spain. -
Jan 1, 754
Gift of the Papal States
After Pepin and his two sons were anointed by Pope Stephen II again, Pope Stephen II wanted protection in return for papal support. Pepin travels to Italy with his army to protect the Pope against the Lombards. Pepin defeats the Lombards and gives the Pope the gift of the Papal States which includes Rome, Ravenna, and Perugia. -
The Bloody Verdict of Verdun
In 782, after defeating the Saxons, Charlemagne arrested 4,500 Saxon rebels who worshipped false gods and attacked his army. They were all beheaded and supposedly the river became red with the blood for many days, hence the name 'Bloody' Verdict of Verdun. -
Charlemagne's Coronation
Charlemagne went to Rome in 800 to investigate accusations of corruption within the Papacy. He was crowned by Pope Leo lll as "Emperor of Rome," much to the dismay of the Emeperor in the East. This upset the Emperor in the East because Charlemagne was crowned with the words "Hail to Charles the Augustus, crowned of God, and the great peace-bringing Emperor of the Romans." This implied that this was God's will and it is a continuity of the Roman Empire. -
Death of Pepin the Short
When Pepin dies, his two sons Carloman and Charles are left to rule the Empire. Later, in 771, Carloman dies leaving Charles as the only ruler of the Franks. Known as "Charles the Great" he spends the next 45 years expanding the Empire and never lost in over 50 conquests.
