Charlemagne's Empire and Administration
Charlemagne was a Frankish king and emperor who unified Europe in the 8th century. He was a brilliant military leader who used his intelligence and skills to create a huge empire that included France, Germany, parts of Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Austria.
He also built a sophisticated system to manage his large kingdom, including an army of agents who traveled from one area to the next and reported back to him on the status of the region. These agents were supervised by church officials who also worked with him to maintain control over his vast realm.
Religious Policy and Support for the Church
His religious policy was focused on enhancing the Latin language and educating the people of his realm to be more educated. This was done in part to combat the growing influence of Islam in Spain.
In addition, Charlemagne wanted to strengthen the Christian church. He encouraged the translation of Christian religious texts from Latin to the vernacular (the everyday language that everyone spoke) and he was an active supporter of the work of the Pope, encouraging the development of churches and cathedrals throughout his empire.
Love for Learning and Religion
Charlemagne was also an avid reader and enjoyed reading religious books, such as the Bible. He believed that reading these scriptures and other holy books would help his people become better Christians and leaders of their communities.
A key to his success was his ability to unite the church and his kingdom under his rule. He worked closely with the Pope to spread Christianity and improve the quality of the church in his kingdom, according to Britannica (opens in new tab).
Intelligence, Curiosity, and Leadership
Charlemagne had a strong interest in religion and education, which is what made him such a successful leader. He was intelligent, curious, and willing to learn from others, which helped him understand the forces reshaping his world. He was also skilled at persuading people to follow him.
His native intelligence combined with his love of learning and religion allowed him to succeed in a time where knowledge was power. His military campaigns, diplomacy, and efforts to impose a unified administration on his kingdom reflected these traits.
Expansion of the Empire and Military Campaigns
In 771, his brother Carloman died suddenly and left him completely in charge of the kingdom. While suspicion fell on the king, nothing was ever proven.
He continued to wage war against Saxons, an ancient Germanic tribe of pagans that had been outside the influence of the Catholic Church. Eventually, Charlemagne converted these Saxons to Christianity and expanded his empire further east.
During this time, his military campaigns against the Saxons helped him expand his kingdom and bring it to its peak, which was in the late 8th century. By the end of his reign, he had conquered almost all of present-day France and Germany.
His mighty military campaigns were based on his ability to command his army and his skill at planning and training his soldiers. He also made sure that his army was well equipped so that it could take on any opponent.
