A series of civil wars and repeated invasions by Germanic tribes caused the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. Following the end of imperial authority, several Germanic tribes struggled against each other for control of territory. The Franks became the dominant power in Gaul, but Greater Frankia repeatedly broke apart during wars between rival claimants for the throne. Finally, Charlemagne united the Franks, and greatly expanded the size of the kingdom. However, his grandsons proved unwilling to share the empire, and divided...
A series of civil wars and repeated invasions by Germanic tribes caused the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. Following the end of imperial authority, several Germanic tribes struggled against each other for control of territory. The Franks became the dominant power in Gaul, but Greater Frankia repeatedly broke apart during wars between rival claimants for the throne. Finally, Charlemagne united the Franks, and greatly expanded the size of the kingdom. However, his grandsons proved unwilling to share the empire, and divided it in 843, laying the foundations for France and Germany. Episode twenty-three explains that Frankia broke apart soon after Pippin's death. Supported by Frisia, the Neustrians revolted, but Pippin's illegitimate son Charles drove the Frisians out of Austrasia. The Neustrians then allied with Odo, duke of Aquitaine, but were defeated. Odo won a major victory over Muslim invaders from al-Andalus, but was weakened, so Charles burned his way through Aquitaine until Odo submitted. Worse, when the new governor of al-Andalus attacked Aquitaine, Odo had to ask Charles for help, thus acknowledging the Frankish king as his overlord. Together, they defeated the Muslims at Poitiers.
Cast of Characters:
Charles Martel-duke and prince of the Franks (718-741), mayor of the palace of Austrasia (715-741), and mayor of the palace of Neustria (718-741), illegitimate son of Pippin II
Plectrude-regent of Theodald, mayor of the palace of Austrasia, widow of Pippin II
Theodald-mayor of the palace of Austrasia (714-716), son of Grimoald and Theudesinda (daughter of Radbod)
Ragenfred-mayor of the palace of Neustria (715-718)
Radbod-king of Frisia (680-719)
Clothar IV-king of Austrasia (717-718)
Chilperic II-king of the Franks (715-721), formerly a monk named Daniel, possibly the son of Childeric II
Theuderic IV-king of the Franks (721-737), son of Dagobert III
Liutprand-king of the Lombards (712-744)
Odo-duke of Aquitaine (700-735)
Hunald-duke of Aquitaine (735-745)
Al-Samh ibn Malik al-Khawlani-governor of al-Andalus (719-721)
Abd al-Rahman ibn Abd Allah al-Ghafiqi-governor of al-Andalus (730-732)
Sources:
Christendom: The Triumph of a Religion-Peter Heather
The Fall of Rome and the End of Civilization-Bryan Ward-Perkins
The Inheritance of Rome-A History of Europe from 400 to 1000-Chris Wickham
Powers and Thrones: A New History of the Middle Ages-Dan Jones
The Restoration of Rome: Barbarian Popes and Imperial Pretenders-Peter Heather
The Franks-Edward James
The Merovingian Kingdoms: 450-751-Ian Wood
The Carolingians: A Family Who Forged Europe-Pierre Riche, Translated by Michael Idomir Allen
Emperor of the West: Charlemagne and the Carolingian Empire-Hywell Williams
Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire that Rescued Western Civilization-Lars Brownsworth
Byzantium: The Early Centuries-John Julius Norwich
Visigothic Spain 409-711-Roger Collins
Keepers of the Keys of Heaven: A History of the Papacy-Roger Collins
Ravenna: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe-Judith Herrin
God's Crucible: Islamd and the Making of Europe, 570-1215-David Levering Lewis
Muslim Spain and Portugal: A Political History of al-Andalus-Hugh Kennedy
The Great Arab Conquests: How the Spread of Islam Changed the World We Live In-Hugh Kennedy
Kingdoms of Faith: A New History of Islamic Spain-Brian A. Catlos
In God's Path: The Arab Conquests and the Creation of a Islamic Empire-Robert G. Hoyland
Image Credit
By Unknown author - [1] 'Grandes Chroniques de France, Mandragore, BNF, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=723625
