The collapse of the empire of Charlemagne: date. The collapse of the empire of Charlemagne: consequences

The emergence and disintegration of the empire of Charlemagne is a significant event in the history of medieval Europe. In essence, after the dissolution of the Roman Empire, this was the first attempt to unite different nations into one big state. The Carolingians pursued an expansive policy aimed at seizing the territories that remained after the reign of the Romans. The ruler of the Franks, Charles, as far as possible expanded the boundaries of his country, which historians gave a name - the empire of Charlemagne.

Occurrence

The heyday and disintegration of such a large country can not be studied without precise information about its origins. Preconditions for the emergence of the Frankish Empire arose in the 4-7 centuries. This period of time will go down in history as "the era of lazy kings" - the actual power belonged to the majordam - local rulers. The creation and disintegration of the empire of Charlemagne took place in the 7th-9th centuries. In 637, the Mayor of Australia, Pepin of Geristalsky, nicknamed Pepin Short, became ruler of the kingdom of the Franks, uniting several Germanic tribes. The descendants of Pepin continued the work of their ancestor. The most outstanding of these was Carl Martell , nicknamed the Hammer. According to legend, in hot battles, he used the weapons of his ancestors - a mace shaped like a huge hammer. The scope of victories and great political talent brought Carl fame and power. It was under his control that the country of the Franks became an empire.

Flowering

The creation and disintegration of the empire of Charlemagne took place at the end of the first millennium. Particularly outstanding were the years of the reign of Charles Martell. Under him, the state of the Carolingians stretched from Frisia in the North Sea to the land of the Lombards in the southeastern Adriatic. In the west, the coast of the country was washed by the Atlantic, and in the south-west Martell captured most of the Iberian Peninsula. He gave the king and the influence of the church - in 800 he spent several months in Rome, analyzing the clashes between the papal government and local authorities. For this, Pope Leo dedicated him to the emperors. For the imperial title, he made new enemies in the face of Byzantine boomers, who, after all, had to accept the existence of Charles and his empire.

After Martell's death, all power in the country was given to his direct heir - Louis Pious. But other rulers did not agree with the fate of their subjects, riots and riots arose in the country.

The collapse of the empire of Charlemagne

The country of this great man was not destined for a long time. After Charles's death, the gradual fading of the country began, the beginning of which was preceded by a single date. The collapse of the empire of Charlemagne falls on 843 year. It was then that the official separation of the state occurred. The division was preceded by a prolonged feud between the descendants of Charles Martel. In 843, in the town of Verdun, an agreement was concluded, according to which the Frankish Empire was divided into three parts. The land of Western Europe, most of which lies in the territory of modern France, went to Charles, the eastern borders, which housed modern Germany, went to Louis. The center, together with the lands of Italy and Lorraine, went to Lothar, he also got the title of Emperor of the Franks.

Results of 843 years

The Treaty of Verdun became the frontier behind which the collapse of the empire of Charlemagne became a fait accompli. The further existence of a great country became impossible: the central authority was too weak, the ambitions of local rulers were too great. The internecine wars - the scourge of the medieval powers - completed the affair. The empire of Charlemagne disintegrated into many small states that were friendly or hostile to each other, but had no decisive influence on politics in Western Europe. Disagreements and skirmishes were skillfully used by the Roman popes, who, under the guise of fighting the heretics, subjugated more and more new lands. The influence of the papacy, overshadowed by the cross and wealth, gradually increased - now no longer secular, and ecclesiastical authority began to dominate Europe. It took hundreds of years for France to become a unitary state again, and for Germany and Italy the process of unification of the lands was completed only in the 18-19th centuries.