To What Extent Did the Carolingian Empire Represent a Successful Revival of the Idea of Empire in Europe? and Was the Carolingian Renaissance as Important as Later Renaissances in European History?
To What Extent Did the Carolingian Empire Represent a Successful Revival of the Idea of Empire in Europe? and Was the Carolingian Renaissance as Important as Later Renaissances in European History?
The beginning of the Carolingian Empire can be traced back farther back that its given name. The empire first took over the Merovingian dynasty of the Frankish Realm. The Carolingians rise to power was able to happen thanks to the wealth the family controlled. Furthermore the alliances the Carolingians made with other nobilities gave them the possibility to expand their empire even further.
Soon enough the Carolingian nobility realized that some of their land was being attacked from opposing forces. To restore the Carolingian empire they enlisted the help of Charles Martel who was able to lead his forces into Gaul and clear the Arab forces held within the city. The organization of the empire by the Carolingians brought about an even bigger area to rule. The Carolingian family was not only gaining more land for their empire but they were also gaining a larger following. Wars were funded by the nobility and in turn this gave them numbers of people in their area. In order to keep their subjects loyal to the Carolingians rewards would be given to their people. The defeated peoples realized that their lives would be better if they were under the control of the Carolingian Empire.
As Pippin III came into power, he felt that if someone were to be in power he should be then considered to be the king. He then decided to send some troops to the office of the Pope to get some answers about who was in charge. The Pope stated that no one should be in charge because it went against the Divine Plan. Regardless of this, Pippin III was elected king after the last Merovingian king was gone. Even though the Pope was pressured into giving him power Pippin III still wanted the Pope to give him the power as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening. Pippin III and his sons were anointed and were officially given empirical office. The Pope also issued a decree stating that a king of the empire can only come from the Carolingian family.
Now that the Carolingian family was in control, the family would have to reform how the empire would run. Much of the work of the Carolingian Empire was built on the reforms and ideas of Charlemagne. Under Charlemagne the empire made great strides within the territory. Like Pippin III, Charlemagne wanted it to be known that he was in control. As a result he made all males to swear an oath of allegiance to him. Even though Charlemagne wanted it to be known that he was in control he knew that it was impossible to rule all by himself. Local government itself was up to the local officials. These officials were part of Charlemagnes Dominici, which basically consisted of counts and magrabs. With the counts taking