The Emergence of Europe (286-843) Part XXVI: The King and the Pope

2025-09-17

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-six explains that Pippin agreed to support Pope Stephen against the Lombards, and king Aistulf was forced to return territory to Rome, which had become a papal republic. Once the papacy had been made secure against aggressive neighbors, Pippin decided that it was time to regain control of Aquitaine. Pippin was relentless, and campaigned there year after year for most of a decade. Resistance finally ended when the duke was killed by his own men. Ordinarily, the Muslims of al-Andalus would have taken advantage of the situation, but they were preoccupied with a civil war. Finally, Abd al-Rahman established a new emirate, but he was busy strengthening his control over the peninsula.

Cast of Characters:

Pippin-king of Frankia (751-768), formerly mayor of the palace of Neustria (741-751) and mayor of the palace of Austrasia (747-751), and the eldest son of Charles the Hammer

Carloman-monk, formerly mayor of the palace of Austrasia (741-747), Pippin's brother

Zacharias-pope (741-752)

Stephen II-pope (752-757)

Paul I-pope (757-767)

Ratchis-king of the Lombards (744-749), formerly duke of Friuli, Aistulf's brother

Aistulf-king of the Lombards (749-756), formerly duke of Friuli, Ratchis' brother

Desiderius-king of the Lombards (756-774), formerly duke of Tuscany

Waifar-duke of Aquitaine (745-768), son of Hunald

Abd al-Rahman I-emir of the emirate of Cordoba (756-788), founder of the emirate

Yusuf ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Fihri-governor of al-Andalus (747-756), former governor of Narbonne

Sources:

The Merovingian Kingdoms: 450-751-Ian Wood