DOCSLIB.ORG

Charlemagne's Paladins Compaign Sourcebook

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Charlemagne's Paladins Compaign Sourcebook Advapced DuireeonsF/Dragons Historical Edition Reference Charlemagne's Paladins Campaign Sourcebook by Ken Rolston Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction 2 tt aladins 57 Chapter 3: Character Design 11 Chapter 7: Adventures on thetth Chapter 4: The Setting Sample25 Saxo filen Frontier 69 Chapter 5: Equipment and Treasure 52 Appendix: Predesigned Player Characters ... 93 ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, AD&D, and DSD are registered trade- Credits marks owned by TSR, Inc. The TSR logo is a trademark owned by TSR, Inc. t01992 TSR, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. Editing: Mike Breault Random House and its affiliate companies have worldwide distribution rights in the Additional Editing: Dori "the Barbarian" Watry book trade for English language products of TSR, Inc. Illustrations: Roger Raupp Distributed to the book and hobby trade in the United Kingdom by TSR, Inc. Typography: Gaye O'Keefe Distributed to the toy and hobby trade by regional distributors. Cartography: John Knecht This book is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Playtesting: Paul Harmaty, Anna Harmaty, Henry Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material contained herein is prohibited Monteferrante, Daria Swain, Richard without the express written permission of TSR, Inc. Garner, Brian Cummings ISBN 1-56076-393-0 9323 Special Thanks: Alan Kellogg TSR, Inc. TSR Ltd. POB 756 120 Church End, Cherry Hinton Lake Geneva Cambridge CBl 3LB WI 53147 U.S.A. United Kingdom CHAPTER Introduction One of the greatest challenges facing a DM is The Fantasy Campaign to create a detailed, dramatic, and plausible campaign setting for role-playing. Adapting a This type of campaign melds a weak-magic historical setting like the Carolingian period of- AD&D fantasy campaign with various historical fers some spectacular advantages for meeting and legendary elements associated with Charle- this challenge. The historical and legendary per- magne and his times. Except for some restric- sonalities and events of Charlemagne's time pro- tions on player characters and magical items, vide a wealth of epic themes for a role-playing players are expected to use their PCs pretty campaign. much like they would in any other AD&D game setting. We suggest you choose one of the following three strategies to develop an AD&D® role-play- The big advantage of this is that the players ing campaign set in the time of Charlemagne. As get all the abilities they are accustomed to, while you read this book and consider how to use it in the DM has access to abundant campaign setting your campaign, keep the following three options detail to adapt for fantasy scenarios (many his- in mind. torical books are available at the public library). The Historical Campaign Historical Role-Playing This type of campaign should be held to the This is not a history book! This is a handbook same standards for accuracy as a historical novel for running AD&D game action-adventure cam- or film. Such standards vary greatly, especially paigns in the time of Charlemagne. Our focus in the action-adventure genre. Often we forgive produces a necessarily narrow and occasionally inaccuracies so long as the tale is dramatic, but a distorted picture of the period. careless disregard for detail ruins our pleasure in Great differences existed between east and the historical setting. Most significant for west, north and south, in Charlemagne's vast AD&D game players, the visible effects of magic European empire. For simplicity we have in a historical world must be far more subtle glossed over many distinctions. Historical de- than those found in a more typical AD&SampleD cam- tail files true of one region may not be true of an- paign. other; details true to the period in general may not necessarily be true in various localities. The Legendary Campaign This type of campaign exploits the legends of DM Tips Charlemagne and his Paladins as recounted in Your task is similar to that of a historical nov- late Medieval tales. Unfortunately, certain as- elist. We have done the basic research for you, pects of these legends (plate armor, jousting, chi- but the true pleasure of designing a historical valric romance, and others) are historically campaign is in adapting the materials you find inaccurate. However, the sorcerers, magical here and in the library. swords and rings, and marvelous fairy king- As your research progresses, you will quickly doms should be retained and adapted to the Car- realize that we don't know very much about folk olingian setting. They can enhance or expand in the Dark Ages. You'll have to piece together any campaign. what you've learned from books, films, and oth- In a legendary campaign, the restrictions on er historical settings to imagine what things spellcasters and spellcasting are somewhat re- might have been like. laxed. Encounters with mythical creatures, such Finally, remember that role-playing is primar- as hippogriffs and pegasi, and with sinister sor- ily a dramatic art. When given a choice between cerers are standard fare. Though spells and mag- facts and drama, go for the drama. Satisfy your ical effects are somewhat restricted, a legendary players' desire for authenticity, but don't be ob- campaign is considerably closer to the standard sessed with facts. Your main task is to capture ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® the feeling of the human drama and setting of game than is a historical campaign. the Dark Ages for your players. 2 • Chapter One Introduction Sample file Introduction • 3 CHAPTER A Survey of Carolingian History "Illustrious race of the Franks, instituted by 799: Charlemagne completes subjugation of God himself, courageous in war, in peace con- Saxons. stant. ., of noble stature, brilliant whiteness of 800: Charlemagne crowned emperor of Romans skin, exceptional beauty, daring, swift, and har- by Pope Leo III. Charlemagne builds his chapel dy, converted to the Catholic faith free of her- at Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen). esy. Long live Christ, who loves the Franks." 802: Empress Irene overthrown and succeeded —From the prologue to a compilation by male ruler. of the laws of the Franks 812: Michael I, emperor of Byzantium, ac- knowledges Charlemagne as his "brother" em- The greatest king of this fortunate race of peror. Franks, Charlemagne (or Charles the Great, 814: Charlemagne dies; Louis the Pious be- Carolus Magnus), by the grace of God, by comes emperor. boldness in war, and by mercy and enlighten- 840: Louis the Pious dies, dividing the Carolin- ment in peace, brought the Dark Age barbarian gian empire among his three sons. Viking raids peoples of Europe together under one rule in grow in size and frequency. the Carolingian Empire. Great in history and 843: After war among Louis's sons, Charles gets legends, Charlemagne and his Paladins became Aquitaine and western France, Lothar gets Italy symbols of the struggle to rise from the vio- and Lorraine, Louis the German gets Germany lence, disorder, ignorance, and paganism of the and the east. Dark Ages toward the noble, heroic, just, and 870: Part of Lothar's kingdom is divided be- enlightened society idealized in chivalric Medi- tween Charles the Bald and Louis the German. eval romances. 871: Alfred the Great becomes king of Wessex. 884: Carolingian empire reunited for the last Timeline time under Charles the Fat. 886: Alfred and the Anglo-Saxons make peace 711: The conquest of Spain begun by Muslims with the Danes and establish boundaries of the of North Africa. Danelaw. Great Viking raid on Paris. 714: Charles Martel (1st Carolingian) Sampleinherits 888 file: Charles the Fat dies and empire is perma- effective rule as Mayor of the Palace under a nently partitioned. weak Merovingian king. 911: Carolingian line comes to an end in Germa- c. 725: Probable composition of Beowulf. ny; Charles the Simple grants land in northwest- 732: Charles Martel defeats Muslims at Battle of ern France to the Vikings (the future Normans). Poitiers. 962: Charlemagne's German empire is revived 751: Pepin, son of Charles Martel, crowned under Otto I. King of Franks. 987: The last Carolingian on the French throne 768: Pepin dies and Charlemagne is crowned is succeeded by Hugh Capet, first of the Cape- king. tian dynasty. 773: Charlemagne invades Lombard Italy. 774: Charlemagne defeats Lombards and makes himself their king. Charlemagne and His Times 778: Charlemagne's Spanish campaign fails; Ro- The Decline and Fall of the Romans land is killed at the Pass of Roncesvalles. 782: Alcuin, Anglo-Saxon scholar, joins In the Fourth Century AD, the western Ro- Charlemagne's court and becomes head of pal- man Empire had united most of what is now ace school. modern Europe under the Pax Romana. In the 789: Anglo-Saxon chronicles record first Viking Fifth Century AD that Roman Empire declined attack in England. and fell as a result of internal political strife and 797: Irene becomes Empress of Byzantine Em- external threats posed by invading tribes of Ger- pire amidst doubts that a woman can legally rule manic and Hunnic barbarians. Four principle the empire. kingdoms succeeded the collapse of the western 4 • Chapter Two Romans: the separate Gothic kingdoms of Spain For more detail on the history of Charlemagne and southern Italy, the Lombard kingdom that and the Carolingian Empire (and abundant in- replaced the Goths in northern Italy, and the spirations for AD&D® game scenarios and cam- Frankish kingdom of Gaul (modern France) and paigns), see the references listed in "Suggested Germany. The cultures of these barbarian king- Reading" section at the end of this chapter. doms were but shadows of the sophisticated Ro- man civilizations they supplanted. Many Adapted and Annotated Excerpts from the Roy- Roman villas (large rural farms) were aban- al Frankish Annals doned, and forests sprang up amidst their ruins.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Carolingian Past in Post-Carolingian Europe Simon Maclean
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by St Andrews Research Repository 1 The Carolingian Past in Post-Carolingian Europe Simon MacLean On 28 January 893, a 13-year-old known to posterity as Charles III “the Simple” (or “Straightforward”) was crowned king of West Francia at the great cathedral of Rheims. Charles was a great-great-grandson in the direct male line of the emperor Charlemagne andclung tightly to his Carolingian heritage throughout his life.1 Indeed, 28 January was chosen for the coronation precisely because it was the anniversary of his great ancestor’s death in 814. However, the coronation, for all its pointed symbolism, was not a simple continuation of his family’s long-standing hegemony – it was an act of rebellion. Five years earlier, in 888, a dearth of viable successors to the emperor Charles the Fat had shattered the monopoly on royal authority which the Carolingian dynasty had claimed since 751. The succession crisis resolved itself via the appearance in all of the Frankish kingdoms of kings from outside the family’s male line (and in some cases from outside the family altogether) including, in West Francia, the erstwhile count of Paris Odo – and while Charles’s family would again hold royal status for a substantial part of the tenth century, in the long run it was Odo’s, the Capetians, which prevailed. Charles the Simple, then, was a man displaced in time: a Carolingian marooned in a post-Carolingian political world where belonging to the dynasty of Charlemagne had lost its hegemonic significance , however loudly it was proclaimed.2 His dilemma represents a peculiar syndrome of the tenth century and stands as a symbol for the theme of this article, which asks how members of the tenth-century ruling class perceived their relationship to the Carolingian past.
    [Show full text]
  • LECTURE 5 the Origins of Feudalism
    OUTLINE — LECTURE 5 The Origins of Feudalism A Brief Sketch of Political History from Clovis (d. 511) to Henry IV (d. 1106) 632 death of Mohammed The map above shows to the growth of the califate to roughly 750. The map above shows Europe and the East Roman Empire from 533 to roughly 600. – 2 – The map above shows the growth of Frankish power from 481 to 814. 486 – 511 Clovis, son of Merovich, king of the Franks 629 – 639 Dagobert, last effective Merovingian king of the Franks 680 – 714 Pepin of Heristal, mayor of the palace 714 – 741 Charles Martel, mayor (732(3), battle of Tours/Poitiers) 714 – 751 - 768 Pepin the Short, mayor then king 768 – 814 Charlemagne, king (emperor, 800 – 814) 814 – 840 Louis the Pious (emperor) – 3 – The map shows the Carolingian empire, the Byzantine empire, and the Califate in 814. – 4 – The map shows the breakup of the Carolingian empire from 843–888. West Middle East 840–77 Charles the Bald 840–55 Lothair, emp. 840–76 Louis the German 855–69 Lothair II – 5 – The map shows the routes of various Germanic invaders from 150 to 1066. Our focus here is on those in dark orange, whom Shepherd calls ‘Northmen: Danes and Normans’, popularly ‘Vikings’. – 6 – The map shows Europe and the Byzantine empire about the year 1000. France Germany 898–922 Charles the Simple 919–36 Henry the Fowler 936–62–73 Otto the Great, kg. emp. 973–83 Otto II 987–96 Hugh Capet 983–1002 Otto III 1002–1024 Henry II 996–1031 Robert II the Pious 1024–39 Conrad II 1031–1060 Henry I 1039–56 Henry III 1060–1108 Philip I 1056–1106 Henry IV – 7 – The map shows Europe and the Mediterranean lands in roughly the year 1097.
    [Show full text]
  • Possibilities of Royal Power in the Late Carolingian Age: Charles III the Simple
    Possibilities of royal power in the late Carolingian age: Charles III the Simple Summary The thesis aims to determine the possibilities of royal power in the late Carolingian age, analysing the reign of Charles III the Simple (893/898-923). His predecessors’ reigns up to the death of his grandfather Charles II the Bald (843-877) serve as basis for comparison, thus also allowing to identify mid-term developments in the political structures shaping the Frankish world toward the turn from the 9th to the 10th century. Royal power is understood to have derived from the interaction of the ruler with the nobles around him. Following the reading of modern scholarship, the latter are considered as partners of the former, participating in the royal decision-making process and at the same time acting as executors of these decisions, thus transmitting the royal power into the various parts of the realm. Hence, the question for the royal room for manoeuvre is a question of the relations between the ruler and the nobles around him. Accordingly, the analysis of these relations forms the core part of the study. Based on the royal diplomas, interpreted in the context of the narrative evidence, the noble networks in contact with the rulers are revealed and their influence examined. Thus, over the course of the reigns of Louis II the Stammerer (877-879) and his sons Louis III (879-882) and Carloman II (879-884) up until the rule of Charles III the Fat (884-888), the existence of first one, then two groups of nobles significantly influencing royal politics become visible.
    [Show full text]
  • History of France Trivia Questions
    HISTORY OF FRANCE TRIVIA QUESTIONS ( www.TriviaChamp.com ) 1> In what year did the twelve-year Angevin-Flanders War end? a. 369 b. 1214 c. 1476 d. 1582 2> Which English King invaded Normandy in 1415? a. Henry V b. Charles II c. Edward d. Henry VIII 3> Where was Joan of Arc born? a. England b. Switzerland c. Germany d. France 4> Signed in 843, the "Treaty of Verdun" was an agreement between Charles the Bald and whom? a. Charles the Simple b. Louis the Stammerer c. Louis the German d. Odo 5> Eleanor of Aquitaine was the Queen of France from August 1137 to March 1152. During this time, whom was she married to? a. Louis VI of France b. Philip II of France c. Louis VII of France d. Philip I of France 6> Which country massacred the French garrison in Bruges in 1302? a. Spain b. Germany c. The Country of Flanders d. England 7> What sport did Louis X play? a. Croquet b. Cricket c. Tennis d. Golf 8> How was Charles V known? a. Charles the Wise b. Charles the Short c. Charles the Simple d. Charles the Bald 9> Which French King suffered from mental illness, which earned him the name "The Mad"? a. Benito b. Charles VI c. Louis II d. Phillip I 10> Where is the Basilica of St. Denis? a. Bordeaux b. Toulouse c. Paris d. Tours 11> Who was holding Leonardo da Vinci when he died? a. Eleanor of Aquitaine b. Francis I c. Napoleon d. Cardinal Richelieu 12> Home of Louis XIV, where is the famous Sun Palace located? a.
    [Show full text]
  • European Middle Ages, 500-1200
    European Middle Ages, 500-1200 Previewing Main Ideas EMPIRE BUILDING In western Europe, the Roman Empire had broken into many small kingdoms. During the Middle Ages, Charlemagne and Otto the Great tried to revive the idea of empire. Both allied with the Church. Geography Study the maps. What were the six major kingdoms in western Europe about A.D. 500? POWER AND AUTHORITY Weak rulers and the decline of central authority led to a feudal system in which local lords with large estates assumed power. This led to struggles over power with the Church. Geography Study the time line and the map. The ruler of what kingdom was crowned emperor by Pope Leo III? RELIGIOUS AND ETHICAL SYSTEMS During the Middle Ages, the Church was a unifying force. It shaped people’s beliefs and guided their daily lives. Most Europeans at this time shared a common bond of faith. Geography Find Rome, the seat of the Roman Catholic Church, on the map. In what kingdom was it located after the fall of the Roman Empire in A.D. 476? INTERNET RESOURCES • Interactive Maps Go to classzone.com for: • Interactive Visuals • Research Links • Maps • Interactive Primary Sources • Internet Activities • Test Practice • Primary Sources • Current Events • Chapter Quiz 350 351 What freedoms would you give up for protection? You are living in the countryside of western Europe during the 1100s. Like about 90 percent of the population, you are a peasant working the land. Your family’s hut is located in a small village on your lord’s estate. The lord provides all your basic needs, including housing, food, and protection.
    [Show full text]
  • The Frankish Empire the Germanic Tribe Known As the Franks
    The Frankish Empire The Germanic tribe known as the Franks established and ruled the Frankish Empire, in the ancient territory of Gaul (largely encompassing modern-day France and parts of modern-day Germany), from the fifth through the tenth century. Over the course of the empire’s history two familial dynasties, the Merovingian dynasty and the Carolingian dynasty, reigned over these territories. The Merovingian dynasty, under its founder King Clovis I, was responsible for uniting all of the Frankish kingdoms under one Crown. Clovis and the Merovingian dynasty expanded the presence and influence of the Franks throughout parts of Western and Central Europe. The power of the Merovingian dynasty waned by the end of the seventh century, and Pepin the Short, a member of the Carolingian family, became king in the middle of the eighth century. His ascendency to the throne launched the beginning of the Carolingian Empire. The Carolingian Empire ruled the Frankish realm until the end of the tenth century. It was one of the most powerful empires in Western Europe during the Middle Ages. The modern state of France would evolve from the Frankish Empire and medieval Francia. The Franks and the Origins of the Frankish Empire The Franks were originally a Germanic tribe that invaded portions of Roman territory from the third to the fifth century. The Salian Franks emerged as a subgroup of the early Franks and were known for being particularly militaristic. They would also go on to spread Christianity throughout Western Europe. King Clovis (ca. 466–511) was the first Frankish king and was responsible for uniting the disparate Frankish tribes into one kingdom, called Francia.
    [Show full text]
  • Kingship and Politics in the Late Ninth Century: Charles the Fat and the End of the Carolingian Empire Simon Maclean Frontmatter More Information
    Cambridge University Press 0521819458 - Kingship and Politics in the Late Ninth Century: Charles the Fat and the End of the Carolingian Empire Simon Maclean Frontmatter More information KINGSHIP AND POLITICS IN THE LATE NINTH CENTURY This is the first major study in any language of the collapse of the pan- EuropeanCarolingianempire andthe reignof its last ruler, Charles III ‘the Fat’ (876–88). The later decades of the empire are conventionally seen as a dismal period of decline and fall, scarred by internal feuding, unfet- tered aristocratic ambition and Viking onslaught. This book offers a fresh interpretation, arguing that previous generations of historians misunder- stood the nature and causes of the end of the empire, and neglected many of the relatively numerous sources for this period. Topics covered include the significance of aristocratic power; political structures; the possibilities and limits of kingship; developments in royal ideology; the struggle with the Vikings; and the nature of regional political identities. In proposing new explanations for the empire’s disintegration, this book has broader implications for our understanding of this formative period of European history more generally. Simon MacLean is Lecturer in History at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. © Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 0521819458 - Kingship and Politics in the Late Ninth Century: Charles the Fat and the End of the Carolingian Empire Simon Maclean Frontmatter More information Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought Fourth Series General Editor: d. e. luscombe Research Professor of Medieval History,University of Sheffield Advisory Editors: christine carpenter Reader in Medieval English History,University of Cambridge,and Fellow of New Hall rosamond mC kitterick Professor of Medieval History,University of Cambridge,and Fellow of Newnham College The series Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought was inaugurated by G.
    [Show full text]
  • The Reign of Charles III the Fat (876-888)
    This electronic thesis or dissertation has been downloaded from the King’s Research Portal at https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/ The reign of Charles III the Fat (876-888) Maclean, Simon The copyright of this thesis rests with the author and no quotation from it or information derived from it may be published without proper acknowledgement. END USER LICENCE AGREEMENT Unless another licence is stated on the immediately following page this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ You are free to copy, distribute and transmit the work Under the following conditions: Attribution: You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work). Non Commercial: You may not use this work for commercial purposes. No Derivative Works - You may not alter, transform, or build upon this work. Any of these conditions can be waived if you receive permission from the author. Your fair dealings and other rights are in no way affected by the above. Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact [email protected] providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Download date: 11. Oct. 2021 THE REIGN OF CHARLES III THE FAT (876-888) Simon MacLean King's College London Submitted for the degree of PhD, March 2000 2 ABSTRACT The subject of this thesis is the reign of the last Carolingian emperor, Charles the Fat.
    [Show full text]
  • Bowl Round 1 Bowl Round 1 First Quarter
    NHBB A-Set Bowl 2015-2016 Bowl Round 1 Bowl Round 1 First Quarter (1) People affected by this phenomenon founded the Last Man Club, and one attempt to fix it was the Shelterbelt Project. This disaster was named in the aftermath of Black Sunday and was preceded by the \great plow-up." Many individuals affected by this period's \black blizzards" migrated along Route 66 to California's Central Valley, where they were branded as \Okies". For ten points, name this ecological disaster during the Great Depression in which drought caused storms of topsoil across the southern Great Plains. ANSWER: Dust Bowl (2) Carl Peters' attempt to implement cotton quotas in this modern day country led to the Maji Maji Rebellion. The Chama Cha Mapinduzi party holds power in this country and was once led by a man who promoted \ujaama" with the Arusha Declaration. The annexation of this country's Kagera province led this country to defeat and depose Idi Amin in neighboring Uganda. Julius Nyerere once led, for ten points, what African country formed in 1964 from the merger of Tanganyika and Zanzibar? ANSWER: Tanzania (3) During one of these events, a Cheyenne tribe killed a white buffalo and inscribed a peace treaty on its skin. A Roman tradition during one of these events involved a procession honoring the fertility god Priapus; that event is also known as the \Tears of Saint Lawrence." Giovanni Schiaparelli proved that one of these events is caused by a trail of debris from the Tempel-Tuttle comet entering Earth's atmosphere.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 13 Sec
    Chapter 13 Sec. 1 notes Medieval Period (500-1500) had its roots in: 1. heritage of Rome 2. beliefs of the Catholic Church. 3. customs of Germanic tribes. I. Invasions of Western Europe Repeated invasions and warfare resulted in: 1. disruption of trade – businesses collapsed, money became scarce 2. downfall of cities – cities were abandoned 3. population shifts – population became mostly rural a. The Decline of learning • Germanic invaders were mostly illiterate with no written language. • Had a rich oral tradition of songs and legends • Learning of Romans sank sharply. • Greek almost forgotten. • Priests among few literate. b. Loss of a Common Language • Latin changed as it mixed with Germanic languages. • Romance languages developed from regional dialects (French, Spanish) II. Germanic Kingdoms Emerge Between 400 and 600 Germanic kingdoms replaced Roman provinces. Church survived collapse of Roman Empire and provided order and stability during time of political chaos. a. The Concept of Government Changes • Germanic emphasis on family ties and personal loyalty replaced Roman loyalty to public government and written law. • Germanic tribes lived in small communities with governed by unwritten rules and traditions. • Warriors were loyal to and fought for a chief who provided food, weapons, and treasure. • Stress on personal ties made governing large territories impossible. b. Clovis Rules the Franks • Clovis brought Christianity to the Franks in Gaul. • Church supported Clovis’s campaigns against other Germanic peoples. • By 511 Clovis united Franks. • Alliance between Clovis and Church set precedent. III. Germans Adopt Christianity Christianity spread through relationship with Frankish rulers. Missionaries helped spread Christianity. a. Monasteries, Convents, and Manuscripts • Monasteries – rural Christian communities for monks.(devoted lives to prayer and good works) • Convents – communities for women who followed similar way of life called nuns.
    [Show full text]
  • Germanic Kingdoms Unite Under Charlemagne
    317-321-0313s1 10/11/02 3:58 PM Page 317 TERMS & NAMES 1 • Middle Ages Germanic Kingdoms • Franks • monastery • secular • Carolingian Unite Under Charlemagne Dynasty • Charlemagne MAIN IDEA WHY IT MATTERS NOW Many Germanic kingdoms that Charlemagne spread Christian succeeded the Roman Empire were civilization through northern Europe, reunited under Charlemagne’s empire. where it had a permanent impact. SETTING THE STAGE The gradual decline of the Roman Empire ushered in an era of European history called the Middle Ages, or the medieval period. It spanned from around 500 to 1500. During these centuries, new institutions slowly emerged to replace those of the fallen Roman Empire. Unified civilizations flourished in China and Southwest Asia. Medieval Europe, though, remained fragmented. Invasions Trigger Changes in Western Europe By the end of the fifth century, invaders from many different Germanic groups over- ran the western half of the Roman Empire. Repeated invasions and constant warfare sparked new trends. A series of changes altered government, economy, and culture: • Disruption of Trade Merchants faced invasions from both land and sea. Their businesses collapsed. Population of Three Roman Cities The breakdown of trade destroyed Europe’s cities as economic centers. Money became scarce. 350 • Downfall of Cities With the fall of the Roman 300 Empire, cities were abandoned as centers of administration. 250 • Population Shifts As Roman centers of trade and THINK THROUGH HISTORY 200 A. Recognizing government collapsed, nobles retreated to the rural (in thousands) Effects How did the areas. Roman cities were left without strong leader- 150 fall of the Roman ship. Other city dwellers also fled to the countryside, Empire lead to 100 disorder in western where they grew their own food.
    [Show full text]
  • Charlemagne Becomes Emperor Pepin the Short Died in 768
    Charlemagne‘s Empire, 768–843 larger than the state of Connecticut. The Franks controlled the largest and E 16 Frankish Kingdom before ° strongest of Europe’s kingdoms, the 0° Charlemagne, 768 8°E area that was formerly the Roman Areas conquered by North Charlemagne, 814 0 250 Miles province of Gaul. When the Franks’ Papal States Sea 0 500 Kilometers first Christian king, Clovis, died in 511, Division by Treaty of Verdun, 843 Elbe R. he had extended Frankish rule over 50°N ENGLAND most of what is now France. R h i Charles Martel Emerges By 700, an n Aachen e R . SLAVIC official known as the major domo, or Paris EAST STATES FRANKISH mayor of the palace, had become the Tours KINGDOM most powerful person in the Frankish (Louis Danube R. WEST the German) kingdom. Officially, he had charge of ATLANTIC FRANKISH the royal household and estates. OCEAN KINGDOM (Charles CENTRAL Unofficially, he led armies and made the Bald) KINGDOM Pavia (Lothair) policy. In effect, he ruled the kingdom. 42°N The mayor of the palace in 719, Ebro R. PAPAL Charles Martel (Charles the Hammer), Corsica STATES held more power than the king. Charles SPAIN Mediterranean Rome Martel extended the Franks’ reign to the Sea north, south, and east. He also defeated Muslim raiders from Spain at the Battle GEOGRAPHY SKILLBUILDER: Interpreting Maps of Tours in 732. This battle was highly 1. Region By 814, what was the extent of Charlemagne’s significant for Christian Europeans. If empire (north to south, east to west)? the Muslims had won, western Europe 2.
    [Show full text]