After the death of Charles the Bald in 877, the kingdom of West Francia was passed on to his son Louis the Stammerer, who died only two years later. ... Following Charles's death in 888, the Carolingian Empire essentially collapsed, ending the powerful reign of the Carolingian dynasty and the entire Frankish Empire.

Why did the Franks come to an end?

When Louis died, as was custom, his kingdom was divided between his sons. This was the end of the Frankish Empire. The sons fought each other and fought other nobles for control, sending Europe back into the chaos that Charlemagne had brought Europe out of.

When did the Franks fall?

The Carolingian Charlemagne (Charles the Great, reigned 768–814) restored the western Roman Empire in cooperation with the papacy and spread Christianity into central and northern Germany. His empire disintegrated by the mid-9th century. The Frankish domains in the time of Charles Martel (boundaries approximate).

How long did the Frankish Empire last?

The Carolingians dominated the Frankish Empire and expanded their power throughout Europe for the following century. The Carolingian Empire spanned from around 750 to 888, under the rule of Charlemagne and his descendants.

Did the Franks have a flag?

Before the marriage of Irene of Athens and Charlemagne, the Frankish Empire flew a flag known as the Oriflamme. This banner, adopted by Charlemagne, quickly became synonymous with the Franks following its creation.

Why did the Carolingian/Frankish Empire Collapse ?

19 related questions found

Who was the first Merovingian king?

The first known Merovingian king was Childeric I (died 481). His son Clovis I (died 511) converted to Christianity, united the Franks and conquered most of Gaul. The Merovingians treated their kingdom as single yet divisible.

Who conquered the Franks?

In 288 the emperor Maximian defeated the Salian Franks, Chamavi, Frisii and other Germanic people living along the Rhine and moved them to Germania inferior to provide manpower and prevent the settlement of other Germanic tribes.

Is Charlemagne related to Clovis?

Charlemagne was not descended from Clovis. Charlemagne was the grandson of Charles Martel, a very influential Mayor of the Palace under the...

Are Franks Germanic?

Franks (Franci), a Germanic people who conquered Gallia (Gaul), and made it Francia (France). Their adoption of Gallo-Roman Catholic culture was the seed of French civilization and, hence, that of medieval and modern western Europe.

Why did the Franks adopt Latin?

For several centuries, northern Gaul was a bilingual territory (Vulgar Latin and Franconian). The language used in writing, in government and by the Church was Latin. Eventually, the Franks who had settled more to the south of this area in northern Gaul started adopting the Vulgar Latin of the local population.

What is Charlemagne's full name?

Charlemagne (Charles the Great; from Latin, Carolus Magnus; 742 or 747 – 28 January 814) was the King of the Franks (768–814) who conquered Italy and took the Iron Crown of Lombardy in 774 and, on a visit to Rome in 800, was crowned imperator Romanorum ("Emperor of the Romans") by Pope Leo III on Christmas Day, ...

What is the largest Germanic kingdom?

Some of the largest Germanic kingdoms included those of the Franks and Goths after the fall of the Western Roman Empire.

How did Charlemagne become king of the Franks?

Charlemagne was the eldest son of Pepin the Short and Bertrada of Laon, born before their canonical marriage. He became king of the Franks in 768 following his father's death, initially as co-ruler with his brother Carloman I, until the latter's death in 771.

Why did King Clovis converted to Christianity?

539-594) in his History of the Franks, the Frankish king is said to have turned Christian because he believed that the Christian God had given him a military victory over a rival German tribe, the Alemanni.

Who was the last Carolingian king?

Louis V, byname Louis le Fainéant (Louis the Do-Nothing), (born 967—died May 21/22, 987), king of France and the last Carolingian monarch.

Is Charlemagne A Martel?

Charles Martel was the grandfather of Charlemagne.

Where did the Franks settle when invaded?

The Franks would have settled in the northeastern Netherlands, as far as the Rhine, circa 200 BCE. Around the 2nd and 3rd century C.E. they crossed the Rhine moved into Toxandria, the Southern Netherlands (modern Belgium) and the German Rhineland.

Did the Franks settle in England?

This type of arrangement was unexceptional in a Late Roman context; Franks had been settled as foederati on imperial territory in northern Gaul (Toxandria) in the fourth century, and the Visigoths were settled in Gallia Aquitania early in the fifth century.

What did the Franks eat?

The only vegetables specifically mentioned are turnips, broad beans, peas and lentils. Lentils are less mentioned in later years, but broad beans and field peas became medieval staples. Hand mills were still common a century later, but larger mills apparently existed among the Franks.

What does Merovingian say in French?

The Merovingian gets this priceless line: The Merovingian: I have sampled every language, French is my favourite - fantastic language, especially to curse with. Nom de Dieu de putain de bordel de merde de saloperies de connards d'enculé de ta mère. It's like wiping your arse with silk, I love it.

Why did the Merovingian dynasty fail?

The power of the Merovingians declined in the 7th century, as the kings were giving more and more of their dominions to vassals for support. Only on the royal dominions did the king have absolute power. Outside those he had to rely on the support of the local landowners.

Was Charlemagne French or German?

Charlemagne (c. 742-814), also known as Karl and Charles the Great, was a medieval emperor who ruled much of Western Europe from 768 to 814. In 771, Charlemagne became king of the Franks, a Germanic tribe in present-day Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and western Germany.

What did middle Francia become?

Following the 855 partition, 'Middle Francia' became only a geographic term and the bulk of its territory was reorganized as Lotharingia, named after Lothair I's namesake son.