Charlemagne: The Father Of Europe

Video Description

This is part 5 in our series on the Franks and Charlamagne, part 1 here: https://youtu.be/jrssgDRN9lQ The full playlist is here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEbAHi3fZpuGe8ekdHDF7lLHiZo8vENbQ Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYK0BJZF3yNb2fw1EdAXUQ/join This is episode 524 of The Rest Is History “Here was a program to wet the ambitions of warlords as well as scholars, and to send men into battle beneath the fluttering of banners, the hiss of arrows, and the shadow of carrion crows…” The year is 777 and Charles the Great - Charlemagne - has ruled as joint king of the Franks alongside his brother, Carloman, for nine years. Now though his brother and greatest impediment to sole authority has died under mysterious circumstances. The sole successor to the mighty Carolingian dynasty, then, Charlemagne behaves differently from all the Frankish warlords that have come before him. In the aftermath of the once great Roman Empire, he seems to have modelled himself on the image an Augustus, pushing the already formidable kingdom that he has inherited towards greater and greater dominion. In his sights now are the Saxons, long growing fractious in Germany, and also the terrifying Lombards. The campaigns that ensued would be more ruthless than any before, with Charlemagne himself personally leading his men into battle. But his regime is not only one founded upon the blade of a sword and militaristic might, it is also a religious and educational revolution. It would utterly transform the west forever, introducing widespread writing and learning, and Christianising vast swathes of Europe - poor and elite alike. But Charlemagne’s total dominion of the West was still incomplete. What would happen next? Join Tom and Dominic as they delve deeper into the rise of the mighty Charlemagne: his transition to sole ruler of the Franks, his violent militaristic conquests, and a Christian regime that would change the world. 00:00 Charles the Great? 07:55 A christian conqueror 10:02 He turns his eyes to Italy 17:42 Divine intervention in pavia20:10 The war leader 26:02 Charlemagne turns to the Saxons… 30:20 Charlemagne the scholar 36:25 Charlemagne takes tough measures on paganism 47:30 Early medieval 'information technology' Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Producer: Theo Young-Smith Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett Editor: Aaliyah Akude Social Producer: Harry Balden Video Editor: Josh Smith Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor