qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyui opasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfgh jklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvb nmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwer tyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopas dfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxCharlemagne cvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmq wertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuio pasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghj klzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbn mqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwerty uiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdf ghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxc Biography Workbook Series vbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmrty © Student Handouts uiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdf ghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxc vbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqw Charlemagne CHARLEMAGNE (742-814) The birthplace of Charlemagne 2. The Frankish rulers never took is unknown. But, from various data, their children into battle because it we may infer that he was born was too dangerous. somewhere about the year 742, nearly a. True seven years before his father, Pepin b. False the Short, assumed the title of king. Charlemagne’s mother was Bertha (or Upon the death of Pepin, in 768, Bertrada), daughter of Charibert (or Charlemagne and his younger brother, Caribert), Count of Leon (or Laon). Carloman, succeeded to equal portions of one of the most powerful European 1. Charlemagne’s mother was _____. kingdoms, bounded by the Pyrenees, a. Bertha the Alps, the Mediterranean, and the b. Charibert ocean. But this would hardly have c. Leona enabled the monarchs, even had they d. Pepin been united, to resist successfully the incursions of the barbarous tribes on Of Charlemagne’s boyhood we the German frontiers of France. know as little as of his birth. He These barbarian incursions had seems at an early age to have mingled commenced with the first in the real business of life, for when establishment of the Frankish only twelve years old, we find him dominion in Gaul, and were kept alive dispatched to receive and welcome the by the constant pouring out of fresh sovereign pontiff who came to implore hordes from the overpopulated North. his father's aid against the barbarians that threatened Rome. From the 3. Which of the following did not form usual habits of the Franks, it is also a border for the Frankish kingdoms probable that he accompanied Pepin in 768? in his campaigns at an early age. But a. Alps the first time that we really see b. Atlantic Ocean Charlemagne in the field, is on the c. Mediterranean Sea renewal of the war with the rebellious d. Pyrenees Duke of Aquitaine. e. Urals www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com Page 2 Charlemagne The situation of Charlemagne Frankish king, endeavored to appease was rendered yet more perilous by the by bringing about a union between her passive enmity of his brother, and the son and the daughter of the Lombard rebellion of Hunald, the turbulent (Desiderata). But Charlemagne soon Duke of Aquitaine. But fortunately, took a disgust to the wife thus Charlemagne had a genius equal to imposed upon him, and repudiated the difficulties of his situation. her, that he might marry Hildegarde, Though his brother refused to aid him, the daughter of a noble family in Charlemagne defeated Hunald. No Suabia (or Swabia). less illustrious by his clemency than by his valor and military skill, Charlemagne forgave the vanquished rebel. 4. Who was the “turbulent Duke of Aquitaine”? ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ Hildegarde of Vinzgouw (or Swabia). Desiderius, the king of Lombardy, had made large 5. Bertha arranged a marriage encroachments upon the states of the between Charlemagne and whom? Roman pontiff, whose cause was taken ____________________________________ up by Charlemagne. This led to feuds, ____________________________________ which Bertha, the mother of the ____________________________________ Matching: Match each person to his or her description. 6. _____ Bertrada A. Brother of Charlemagne 7. _____ Caribert B. Duke of Aquitaine 8. _____ Carloman C. Father of Bertrada; maternal grandfather of Charlemagne D. Father of Charlemagne 9. _____ Desiderata E. Father of Desiderata; first father-in-law of Charlemagne 10. _____ Desiderius F. First wife of Charlemagne 11. _____ Hildegarde G. Mother of Charlemagne 12. _____ Hunald H. Second wife of Charlemagne 13. _____ Pepin the Short www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com Page 3 In 771 Carloman died, and 15. Old English is most closely tied Charlemagne was elected to the to what other language? vacant throne, to the exclusion of his ____________________________________ nephews, whose extreme youth, ____________________________________ indeed, made them incapable of ____________________________________ wearing the crown in such troubled times. Gilberga, the widow of Charlemagne took and Carloman, immediately fled, and destroyed the famous temple of the sought an asylum with Desiderius, the Irminsule, the great idol of their common place of refuge for all who nation—that is, the Hermansaule, or were hostile to the Frankish monarch. Pillar of Hermann, which had originally been raised to commemorate 14. Who was Carloman’s widow? the defeat of the Roman Varus by that ____________________________________ hero, though in time the name had got ____________________________________ corrupted, and the cause of its erection ____________________________________ been forgotten. The Saxons were too wise to meet their powerful opponent But the attention of in the field, and when, as often Charlemagne was called off to a more happened, they were brought to bay, immediate danger from the Saxons, of they made a feigned submission, and whom the Frisians were either a obtained mercy by vows they never branch or the perpetual allies. (The meant to keep. Meanwhile events had Old English language is most closely been taking place in another quarter, tied to Frisian; the Frisians are ethnic that called away Charlemagne, and to coastal areas of modern Germany obliged him to leave his generals to and the Netherlands.) Had the tribes watch over them. of which this people were composed been united under one head, instead of 16. What famous temple was being governed by various destroyed by Charlemagne? independent chiefs, the result would ____________________________________ probably have been fatal to France. ____________________________________ Such a day, however, might come; a ____________________________________ second Attila might arise; and with a full conviction of these perils, The Lombard king, Desiderius, Charlemagne, when he marched had made use of Charlemagne’s against the barbarians, determined to absence to plunder the papal see, to put them down effectually. which Adrian had now succeeded. Charlemagne With some difficulty, Pope Adrian Month after month passed, till contrived to give his friend notice of at length Easter approached. Leaving his danger. Charlemagne assembled a the city blockaded as before, vast army, one division of which he Charlemagne determined to visit himself led into Italy over the Alps by Rome in his capacity of patrician or Mount Cenis, while the other was governor. His march through the conducted to the same ground by his Italian towns was one of uncle, Duke Bernard, over the Mons uninterrupted triumph. Everywhere Jovis, or Mount Joux, which from this he was met with acclamations, and at event received the name it has borne Rome he was received by the Pope, as ever since, of the Great Saint Bernard. well as the people, with the liveliest expressions of gratitude for having 17. Who led troops over the Alps by freed them from the tyranny of the Mount Cenis? Lombards. The friendship then a. Charlemagne cemented between Adrian and his b. Desiderius young deliverer lasted through the c. Duke Bernard remainder of their lives without any d. Pope Adrian serious interruption. Although surprised by an 19. The people of Rome detested invasion from a quarter so unexpected, Charlemagne because of his Desiderius marched out to meet his triumph over their Lombard rulers. enemy. But his flank being turned, a. True Desiderius fled hastily to Pavia, b. False without having struck a blow. Charlemagne pursued the fugitives, Having thus asserted his rights but finding the city too strong to be of Patrician or Exarch, Charlemagne taken by storm, he blockaded it with was liberal in his donations to the one portion of his army, while with the Church, and soon afterward returned other he proceeded against Verona, to the siege of Pavia. It now became having reduced which, he returned to important for Charlemagne to bring the siege of Pavia. the siege of Pavia to a speedy conclusion, the Saxons having again 18. To where did Desiderius flee? taken advantage of his absence to ____________________________________ ravage his frontiers. About the middle ____________________________________ of the year, the city surrendered, and ____________________________________ Charlemagne was crowned with the www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com Page 5 Charlemagne iron crown of Lombardy. He then one man, Charlemagne retained in his marched against the Saxons, defeating own hands the general government of them whenever they ventured to make the state. The local administration a stand, till they found their best was distributed among twelve resource was in submission. provincial officers, with the title of Dukes, each of them having the 20. What group took advantage of command of a county. Subordinate to Charlemagne’s absence to ravage these officers were the Counts, who, in his frontiers? fact, were the judges of the land, and ____________________________________ had full authority to decide