Gundrada Princess Of Italy

Other Events:

• AFN: 9GCF-R5

Other Events:

• AFN: 9GCD-3K

Notes:

Pippin (Carloman), King Of Italy

Pippin — Bertha Queen Of Italy. Bertha (daughter of William Count Of Toulouse) was born Abt 776, Of, Toulouse, Haute-Garonne, France. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• AFN: 9GCF-NM

Other Events:

• AFN: 9GCC-89

Notes:

Charlemagne, Emperor Of The Holy Roman Empire, King of the Franks was king of the Franks from AD 768 to 814 and "Emperor of the Romans" from 800 to 814. He became a key figure in the development of western Europe's medieval civilization. By his almost constant military campaigns, Charlemagne created a vast empire in the West which included much of the western part of the old Roman Empire as well as some new territory. He was the first Germanic ruler to assume the title of emperor, and the "empire" he revived lasted in one form or another for a thousand years. Culturally and politically, he left his mark on the newly rising civilization of the West. Probably no ruler of the early Middle Ages better deserved the title of "The Great."

Charlemagne was the son of Pepin the Short, and the grandson of Charles Martel. From 768 to 771, Charlemagne shared Pepin's kingdom with his brother, Carloman. When Carloman died, Charlemagne became sole ruler. He took up with energy the work begun by his father and grandfather. His first step was to repress his hostile neighbors. Charlemagne gained wide acclaim for his outstanding military ability, persistence, and success. He waged more than 50 campaigns against neighboring Germanic peoples on all sides, and against the Avars, Slavs, Byzantines, and Moors.

Charlemagne's first great war was against the Lombards, a Germanic people who had invaded Italy in the late 500's. They had been a source of trouble to the popes ever since. In conquering them, Charlemagne followed Pepin's policy of friendship and cooperation with the Roman Catholic Church. This also served Charlemagne's own interests, because he became ruler of the Lombard kingdom in
Italy.

The long Saxon war was the most important of Charlemagne's military ventures. The Saxons, who held the whole northwestern part of Germany, were pagans. Their defeat after 30 years of war prepared the way for the religious conversion and civilization of Germany.

By means of other wars, Charlemagne put down a rebellion in Aquitaine, added Bavaria to his kingdom, and established several border states to protect his outlying conquests. In eastern Europe, he defeated the Slavs and Avars and made possible eastward migration by the Germans. Charlemagne had built a vast and sprawling state that shared borders with such different peoples as the Slavs, Byzantines, and Moslems. He defended the Roman Catholic Church and constantly extended its power. He was far more powerful than the imperial successors of Constantine, the first Christian emperor in the West, and he ruled a much more extensive area. Because of his great holdings, he decided to revive the Roman Empire, but as a new empire that was European and Christian in Character. The relations of the popes with the Byzantine, or Eastern Roman, emperors in Canstantinople had been breaking down since the middle 700's. An alliance between the Roman Catholic Church and the Franks, accomplished by proclaiming Charlemagne emperor, made good sense. Pope Leo III placed the imperial crown on Charlemagne's head on Christmas Day, 800. The most important effect of this act was that it revived the idea of empire in the West, an idea which caused both harm and good in succeeding centuries.

Einhard, Charlemagne's secretary and friend, described the emperor as large and strong of body, fond of active exercise, genial but dignified, and sensible and moderate in his way of life. Charlemagne clearly recognized his duties and responsibilities, and was a tireless worker. He could not reverse the long trend toward decentralized government. But he could and did control the power of the nobles and maintain a considerable degree of law and order in a troubled age. His administrative methods helped raise the standard of living.

Charlemagne's greatest contribution was his work as a patron of culture and extender of civilization. The Palace School, set up at his capital in Aachen under the leadership of the English scholar Alcuin (735-804), stimulated interest in education, philosophy, and literature. Most of the leading scholars were churchman, so this vast cultural activity greatly strengthened the church and had far-reaching and lasting results. In this way, Charlemagne, by means of his power and eminence, gave western Europe a unified culture so strong that it survived the terrible invasions and disorders of the next 200 years.
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Reference:
"The World Book Encyclopedia", 1968, C291-292.
"Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists ...", Frederick Lewis Weis, 1993, p cvi.

Charlemagne, married Hildegard, Countess Of Vinzgau Abt 771, Aachen, Rhineland, Prussia. Hildegard, (daughter of Gerold I Duke Swabia and Imma Duchess Of Swabia) was born Abt 756, Of Aachen, Rhineland, Prussia; died 26 Apr 783, , Thionville, Moselle, France; was buried St Arnoul Abbey, Metz, Austrasia, France. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• AFN: 9GCD-17

Notes:

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Reference:
"Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists ...", Frederick Lewis Weis,
1993, p cvi.

Other Events:

• AFN: 9GFM-K5

Other Events:

• AFN: 9GCB-5M

Notes:

Pepin "The Short", King Of The Franks founded the Carolingian dynasty. Like his father, grandfather, and great-great-grandfather, Pepin served as mayor of the palace in the Merovingian kingdom in France and Germany. In each case, the mayor was the power behind the throne. In 751, an assembly of the Franks deposed Childeric, the last of the weak Merovingian kings, and proclaimed Pepin king. Pope Stephen II, who ruled Rome, asked Pepin for help against the Lombard king, Pepin sent his army to save Rome. The Lombards had captured Ravenna. Pepin recaptured the city and much of the nearby territory, known as "the Donation of Pepin," helped build the political power of the pope. Pepin added Aquitaine to his own kingdom, and began many important religious and educational reforms. His son Charlemagne, carried on these reforms.
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Reference:
"The World Book Encyclopedia", 1968, P245
"Royalty for Commoners", Roderick W. Stuart, 1993, p 129.
"Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists ...", Frederick Lewis Weis,
1993, p cvi.

Pepin married Bertrada, Countess Of Laon, [Queen] Abt 739. Bertrada, (daughter of Heribert, Count Of Laon and Bertrada) was born Abt 719, , Laon, Aisne, France; died 8 Jul 783, , Choisy, Haute-Savoie, France; was buried St Denis, Paris, Seine, France. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• AFN: 9GCC-74

Notes:

Queen of the Franks, "Broadfoot".
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Reference:
"Royalty for Commoners", Roderick W. Stuart, 1993, p 129.
"Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists ...", Frederick Lewis Weis,
1993, p cvi.

Other Events:

• AFN: 9GCD-JS

Notes:

Gerold I Duke Of Swabia

Gerold — Imma Duchess Of Swabia. Imma was born 709. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• AFN: 9GCD-K0