The Carolingian Empire was established by Charlemagne in 800 and would lead to a several generation split into several Carolingian kingdoms. Charlemagne and the kingdoms of his grandsons Louis the German, Charles the Bald and Lothar represent the rise and fall of a would be empire. Each of these kingdoms had their strengths and weaknesses that would ultimately influence the further progression of Europe. The Carolingian kingdoms were responsible for the unifications of the Anglo-Saxon people and the further power expansion of the Catholic church within Europe.
The predominant strength of the Carolingian empire stems from the shrewd alliance system instituted between Frankish king Charlemagne and the Holy Roman Church. Charlemagne sought …show more content…
Since the Germanic form of succession was still in place during his rule Charlemagne decided to split his empire between his sons. However, with only one surviving male heir, Louis the Pious, the kingdom remained intact until 840 with Louis the Pious death. According to The History of the Sons of Louis the Pious following the death of the second Carolingian king Louis the Pious his kingdom was split into three sections between his three surviving sons. This division between the Carolingian empire between Charlemagne's three grandsons represented the lack of a concept of a true empire by the Carolingian kings, as they continued the Germanic way of thinking of dividing land between the rulers sons (Chp 4, Rd 1, Pg 130). The original Carolingian kingdom was split into three with Charles inheriting the West, Lothar the middle and Louis the East. Aside from a linked parentage three brothers Louis, Charles, and Lothar held no loyalty to each other as they had been raised in their respective regions of their father's kingdom and spoke a different language. The Oaths of Strasbourg were an event in which Charles the Bald and Louis the German came together to defeat Lothar illustrate the divide between the nation not only as the brothers turning on each other but also a linguistic divide as Charles the Bald took his oaths in Frankish so his brothers forces could understand him and Louis the German took his in French for the same reason (Chp 4 Rd 2 pg 134). The lack of any unity between the three kings ultimately lead to bloody conflicts as to who would overthrow the other and gain their believed inheritance. The History of the Sons of Louis the Pious by Nithard, while somewhat biased towards Charles tells that following the death of their father Louis the Pious, Lothar immediately took actions against his brothers. This account also brings to light a lack of
The predominant strength of the Carolingian empire stems from the shrewd alliance system instituted between Frankish king Charlemagne and the Holy Roman Church. Charlemagne sought …show more content…
Since the Germanic form of succession was still in place during his rule Charlemagne decided to split his empire between his sons. However, with only one surviving male heir, Louis the Pious, the kingdom remained intact until 840 with Louis the Pious death. According to The History of the Sons of Louis the Pious following the death of the second Carolingian king Louis the Pious his kingdom was split into three sections between his three surviving sons. This division between the Carolingian empire between Charlemagne's three grandsons represented the lack of a concept of a true empire by the Carolingian kings, as they continued the Germanic way of thinking of dividing land between the rulers sons (Chp 4, Rd 1, Pg 130). The original Carolingian kingdom was split into three with Charles inheriting the West, Lothar the middle and Louis the East. Aside from a linked parentage three brothers Louis, Charles, and Lothar held no loyalty to each other as they had been raised in their respective regions of their father's kingdom and spoke a different language. The Oaths of Strasbourg were an event in which Charles the Bald and Louis the German came together to defeat Lothar illustrate the divide between the nation not only as the brothers turning on each other but also a linguistic divide as Charles the Bald took his oaths in Frankish so his brothers forces could understand him and Louis the German took his in French for the same reason (Chp 4 Rd 2 pg 134). The lack of any unity between the three kings ultimately lead to bloody conflicts as to who would overthrow the other and gain their believed inheritance. The History of the Sons of Louis the Pious by Nithard, while somewhat biased towards Charles tells that following the death of their father Louis the Pious, Lothar immediately took actions against his brothers. This account also brings to light a lack of