Charlemagne: life, reign, and historical significance

Charlemagne

History is told of as a development controlled by great and power leaders. However, the question has to be asked, whether it is these individuals that craft history or whether it is history that make these great individuals. One quote gives us the answer:

People make their own history, but they do not make it just as they please: they do not make it under circumstances chosen by themselves, but under circumstances directly encountered, given and transmitted from the past."

Thus, the argument goes, that it is because of the circumstances of history that allow great individuals to become great individuals and, as great individuals; they are able to create history.

One of history's most significant and greatest individuals is Charlemagne, the King of the Franks who is considered by some to be the founder of France and Germany and even Europe as a whole. It was under his power and his leadership that the Holy Roman Empire was revived and protected, the middle ages commenced and new steps in art, literature, science and philosophy taken.

In the critically acclaimed biographical study of Charlemagne entitled Charlemagne: Father of a Continent, author Alessandro Barbero examines the rise of Charlemagne's power and the effect he has had on history, particularly European history. Not only is this biography a history of Charlemagne, it is the telling of how history created a historical figure and how this historical figure created history.

Charlemagne was the King of the Franks from 768 until his death in 814. Not only did he rule the Frankish Kingdom, he expanded it into a Frankish Empire that incorporated almost all of Western and Central Europe in its entirety. One of his most significant conquest was his conquering of Italy, where Pope Leo III crowned him Imperator Augustus as part of a joint attempt to revive the Holy Roman Empire.

Charlemagne came to power by succeeding his father, King Pippin the Short, where he at first co-ruled with his brother Carloman, until his brother passed away in 771. Like his father, Charlemagne also favored the papacy and in effect became its protector by first removing the Lombards from power in Italy and waging war on the Spanish Saracens. He also expanded the Christian empire by conquering the Saxons and converting them to Christianity, thus laying the ground work for what would become the Ottonian Dynasty.

Charlemagne obtained his power by succession and, at least at first, through diplomacy with his brother. After his father's death the Kingdom of the Franks was divided, in accordance with tradition, between the brothers Charlemagne and Carloman. Charlemagne took the outer portions of the kingdom and Carloman the inner parts. Regardless of this split, the two brothers ruled jointly and their first venture was to quall the Aquitainian and Gasconian uprising. However, prior to the battle, Carloman refused to participate and instead returned to Burgundy. Charlemagne continued onto war and led his army to Bordeaux where he finally prevailed.

Charlemagne continued to have a generally good relationship with his brother, knowing that his power was safer if his brother was not his enemy. Yet, Charlemagne eventually solidified his power over his brother by marrying a daughter of King Desiderius of the Lombards, allowing his to surround his brother with his own allies. When Charlemagne left his wife for another female, she returned to her father. This move irked the Lombards who were prepared to join Carloman and defeat Charlemagne. However, prior to the war's commencement, Carloman died. Thus, Charlemagne gained complete power of the kingdom.

Once in power, Charlemagne used it to increase his area of reign and thus build the first European empire since the fall of the Roman Empire. The first battle in this life-long battle of conquest was over Lombardy. Seeing himself as the servant of the Pope, Charlemagne let his power be influenced by the Pope's quest for power. Thus, when Pope Hadrian I took succession he demanded the return of various cities in the former area of Ravenna from Desiderius. When Desiderius refused the request and instead began taking other papal cities and moving an invasion towards Rome, Hadrian personally requested that Charlemagne enforce the policies of his father. Charlemagne agreed with the Pope and led an invasion over the Alps in 773, successfully forcing the Lombards back to Pavia before laying siege to that and being crowned king.

Charlemagne was involved in non-stop battles throughout his reign. One of his biggest and longest lasting campaigns was his thirty year war against the Saxons, which he eventually conquered and converted the people to Roman Catholicism. At the same time, Charlemagne was also waging successful campaigns in Italy, earning himself the title of King there also. He also led a Spanish campaign, an area ruled by the Muslim Moorish rulers. The Moors, who were under attack by another Muslim sect, made an offer to Charlemagne where they would pay him homage as the great King of the Franks in exchange for military support. Charlemagne saw this as an opportunity, again being influence by the Pope and his Catholicism, to expand Christianity and his own personal power. This battle turned out to be Charlemagne's most difficult and, after not succeeding as quickly as he planned and in fear of risking defeat, he instead decided to retreat back home. He realized that he could not trust neither the Moors or the Basques, his supposed allies. During his retreat, his army was surprise attacked by the Basques, killing many of Charlemagne's most highly regarded warriors and leaders. In the end, the Spanish campaign was a complete disaster and a total failure.