Charlemagne and the Revival of the New Holy Roman Empire

Charlemagne (742–814 AD), known as Charlemagne the Great, was one of the most prominent kings of medieval Europe. He played a pivotal role in reviving the idea of ​​the Roman Empire in the West after its fall. Charlemagne inherited the Frankish throne from his father, Pepin the Short, and expanded his kingdom to include most of Western Europe, including France, Germany, Italy, and parts of Spain.

There is no doubt that Charlemagne's rule marked the beginning of a new era, not only in the history of the Franks, but in the history of Europe as a whole. Charlemagne came to put the finishing touches on the process of fusion and integration of the Germanic and Roman elements in Central and Western Europe.

Although the Middle Ages in Europe were characterized by the Church's control over all aspects of life and the interference of spiritual authority (the Church) in temporal authority (the state), the strength of Charlemagne's personality did not leave the popes during his reign any room to object in any way.

He wrote to the Pope, saying that it is the King's prerogative and important duty to defend and protect the Holy Church of God with the sword, to establish the Catholic faith, and that it is the duty of the Holy Father, the Pope, to support the King in his efforts, to pray for him, to follow and apply the Church's laws, to make his life an example of holiness, to support the Church, and to speak with wisdom and holy advice.

Military expansions and achievements

Charlemagne led several successful military campaigns against pagan Germanic tribes, such as the Saxons, and against Muslims in the Iberian Peninsula. He also supported the papacy in its struggles against the Lombards in Italy. These conquests were not simply political expansion; they were sometimes justified as a "religious revival" to spread Christianity.

Charlemagne's subsequent campaigns against the Bavarians ended with the defeat of the Franks, who were all part of the Frankish kingdom. Charlemagne's rule over Bavaria extended to the lower Danube. Perhaps the most brutal of Charlemagne's wars were those against the Saxons. In fact, these were the most violent wars fought by the Franks throughout their history. Never before had they waged wars with such seriousness and cruelty, and such great perseverance and effort were required of them. The Saxons, like all other Germanic peoples, They were fierce warriors, and as described by Hartmann, Charlemagne was loyal allies of the devil of war, hostile to religion, and saw nothing wrong with them in their transgression of divine and human laws. Charlemagne's aim in his war with the Saxons was not only to protect the borders of his kingdom, but also to impose Christianity by military force on the Saxons, who were the last of the Germanic peoples who had retained their pagan religion. For thirty years, the Franks concentrated their efforts and armies in Saxony. Charlemagne himself led a large number of campaigns

Imperial coronation and the revival of the idea of ​​Rome

In 800 AD, Pope Leo III crowned him Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, a highly symbolic moment. This coronation was seen as an attempt to revive the glory of the Western Roman Empire, which had fallen in 476 AD. This event marked the beginning of the "Holy Roman Empire," which would last for centuries to come.

he second of these prophesied revivals or resurrections of the Roman Empire occurred at the time of Charlemagne Charles the Greatï

The first revival of the Western Roman Empire took place in the era of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine), specifically in the era of Emperor Justinian. For more details

If there is any doubt that the Roman Empire was very much alive through Charlemagne's revival, he adopted as his official title, "Charles, the most serene Augustus, crowned by God, great and pacific emperor, governing the Roman Empire."

Carolingian Renaissance

Definition of the Carolingian Renaissance

The Carolingian Renaissance was a revival of classical learning and the development of contemporary religious and scholarly practices pursued by Carolingian rulers in Western Europe from the mid-eighth to the ninth century. The precise date of the end of the Carolingian Renaissance remains disputed, with scholarly consensus that it began during the reign of the Carolingian king Charlemagne.

The beginning and foundation of the Carolingian Renaissance

After Charlemagne gained control of the entire Frankish Empire in Western Europe following the death of his brother and ruler Carloman (751–771), he sought to consolidate his rule by strengthening the administrative state and the existing church. However, he faced a problem in his pursuit of this. There were few educated people available to serve at his court, and many of the church officials in his kingdom lacked basic Latin and other scholarly skills necessary to adequately serve the people. During this period, church and state were deeply intertwined, and thus, maintaining order and creating the City of God (Civitas Dei) that Charlemagne envisioned required an educated clergy.

To this end, Charlemagne financed, encouraged, and personally participated in a campaign to revive classical learning and expand and improve the educational infrastructure of his empire. One of the most important early developments in this organized revival was Charlemagne's gathering of prominent scholars from across Western Europe at his royal residence at Aachen (now in western Germany). The most influential member of this group was the English cleric and educator Alcuin (c. 732–804), whom Charlemagne met in Italy in 781. Alcuin headed the Palatine (palace) school at Aachen, where Charlemagne, his family, and his friends were educated. The school became a vital center for discussion and knowledge exchange. Alcuin introduced English learning methods into Frankish schools, systematized their curricula, raised the standards of scholarship, and encouraged the study of the liberal arts for a better understanding of spiritual doctrine. In 796, he left Charlemagne's court to become abbot of the monastery of St. Martin in Tours. 

The revival of the empire was not limited to politics and the military, but also encompassed culture and education. Charlemagne encouraged educational and church reform, establishing what is known as the "Carolingian Renaissance," which saw schools opened, Latin script improved, and ancient manuscripts copied, thus preserving the classical Roman heritage.

There were many factors  play in this cultural expansion, the most obvious being that Charlemagne's unification of most of Western Europe brought peace and stability, paving the way for prosperity. This period saw an economic revival in Western Europe, following the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. Local economies in the West had largely degenerated into subsistence agriculture by the early 7th century, with cities serving only as gift exchange venues for the elite. By the late 7th century, sophisticated urban settlements emerged, populated mostly by artisans, merchants, and sailors and boasting street networks and craft production, as well as regional and long-distance trade.

Legacy and Influence

Charlemagne is considered the "Father of Europe," having helped shape European identity by uniting a multitude of peoples under one banner and one religion. His revival of the Roman Empire profoundly influenced European political and religious thought for centuries.

In short, Charlemagne was not just a warrior king, but a symbol of the revival of the Roman spirit in Western Europe, opening the door to the formation of the European feudal system and the Holy Roman Empire, which played a pivotal role in the history of Europe in the Middle Ages.