Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

(742–814) Charlemagne was probably the most successful conqueror in European history. After his brother's death in 771, he became sole ruler of Francia (roughly modern France plus the Rhineland). He then conquered Italy, Bavaria, Saxony and, south of the Pyrenees, the Spanish march. What is more, he was still in full control of this vastly extended empire when he died. This double achievement was essentially a triumph of organization. After 771 he disposed of enormous resources in terms of manpower, waggons, weapons and food supplies. He exploited these advantages to the utmost, often being able to dispatch several armies to a single theatre of war and feed them there. In consequence, some of his victims (e.g. the Lombard kings of Italy in 773–4 and the Bavarians in 787) were probably wise in deciding fairly quickly to surrender. By contrast, some of the Saxons, led by Widukind, put up a fierce resistance; unfortunately for them, they found in Charlemagne a tireless and ruthless enemy. He himself led at least nineteen campaigns against them and, after their lands had been devastated time and time again, they too submitted. Ironically, the engagement for which he was most celebrated – in the ‘Chanson de Roland’ – was one of his few setbacks: the ambush of his rearguard at Roncesvalles in 778. His coronation as the western emperor at Rome on Christmas Day 800 was little more than ... log in or subscribe to read full text