The influence of the Carolingian Empire

Although the 11th and 12th centuries are renowned for having the most significant cultural impact in history, no medieval empire made as much of a societal impression as did the cultural renaissance of the Carolingians.

What was considered to be a relatively bleak time in history was brightened by this dynasty’s attempts to revive traditions and cultural heritage. Yet, was the Carolingian Empire’s influence as impactful as it is given credit for?

What was the Carolingian Empire?

The Carolingian Empire were descendants of the Franks - a Germanic-speaking tribe that invaded the Roman Empire and established the most powerful Christian kingdom of the middle ages.

There could be no more robust evidence of the Carolingian’s influence than the sheer magnitude of their kingdom. At the time of its genesis (800 A.D.), the Carolingian Empire covered approximately 429,000 square miles and had a population ranging between 10 and 20 million people.

The land between the Loire and the Rhine was known as Francia - the Kingdom of the Franks - and was at the core of the Empire. To the south, the Carolingian’s territories crossed beyond the Pyrenees and into the Emirate of Cordoba. To the North it extended into the Kingdom of the Danes, to the west it connected with Brittany, and to the east, Francia shared a border with the Slavs and Avars. 

Upon the dynasty’s division in the year 843, the earliest stages of the modern kingdoms of France and Germany were created and the groundwork was set for the influential monarchies of continental Europe and the Holy Roman Empire. Whereas many European countries still bear the stamp of the Frank’s influence, such as Germany and Belgium, France is potentially the one that was most impacted, as even the country’s name was eponymous of the Carolingian dynasty’s territories. 

Charlemagne and the Carolingians

The Carolingian dynasty originated from a family of aristocratic Franks of the name “Charles” - derived from Charles Martel, the Frankish statesman and leader who ruled France until his death and consistently defended his country against Muslim invasions.

Martel’s grandson - Charlemagne - became the first emperor of the Carolingian dynasty upon his coronation by Pope Leo III, thus marking the empire’s beginning in the year 800. This inception established the completion of the Merovingian Dynasty. Due to the family’s fondness for the name Charles, and Charlemagne’s importance in their timeline, their dynasty became known by historians as the Carolingian Dynasty. 

Charlemagne intended to convert all of his territories to Christianity and spread its word along with his expanding empire. The reason for his religious agenda was likely due to Charlemagne’s belief that he was responsible for the salvation of his subjects which he outlined in his 789 legislation, the Admonitio Generalis.

However, another potential reason for why he was so concerned with the redemption of his people may have been to do with the insurgency in eschatology - a section of theology that focused on mankind’s final days or the “end of the world.” Academics of this time believed that Charlemagne’s reign as emperor was the sign that the world was going to end. Thus, Charlemagne’s concerns were somewhat founded. 

Due to Charlemagne’s extension of Frankish territories into Gaul, Germany, and Italy, the Carolingian Empire became one of the most significant empires of the middle ages in Europe. What’s more, the Empire was influential on Europe’s religious structure as Charlemagne formed an alliance with the papacy and ultimately created a papal state in the heart of Italy - the precursor to the Holy Roman Empire. Charlemagne was even given the title of emperor of the Roman Empire, further establishing a sense of unity across western Europe. 

Unfortunately, upon the death of Charlemagne’s successor, the Carolingian empire was divided into three separate realms.

Lothar - descendent of Charlemagne - ruled the Italian provinces and Rome and thus assumed the title of emperor. However, whereas the emperor would have commanded over all the Carolingian territories in judicial matters and protected the church prior to the empire’s division, after the kingdom was split, Lothar had little control over what happened outside of his territories. 

The Carolingian territories were reunited by Charles the Fat in 884, but they were divided again upon his death in 888. The Eastern faction of the empire was ruled by an ‘illegitimate’ Carolingian until 911, whereas the Western faction restored the legitimate dynasty and governed until 987.

The Carolingian Legacy

In comparison to other significant medieval European dynasties, the Carolingian Empire had a relatively short lifespan. However, regardless of its brief existence, the Carolingians left a profound mark on the continent of Europe.

Historically, the era of the Carolingian Empire is widely considered to be the genesis of feudalism - essentially a method of structuring society around an exchange of goods and land for service. Nevertheless, the Carolingian’s role in feudalism is heavily debated by historians, as some credit the empire’s role as heightened in this movement due to Charlemagne’s influence and power; instead, feudalism may have transitioned from the Merovingian to the Carolingian eras without much notable change. 

The Carolingian dynasty’s impact is likely most strongly felt in France and Germany. In fact, the ownership of Charlemagne is often hotly debated between both regions. Paris honours the emperor with a huge bronze statue which was designed during times of tension between France and Germany and was placed strategically in front of Notre Dame Cathedral as a symbol of the fact that Charlemagne is rightfully French. But the argument continued to be debated, and shots were taken by Napoleon, as he declared that ‘I am Charlemagne’ and painted himself with his idol’s name beneath him. Yet, this did not stop German leaders from associating themselves with the Carolingian emperor - even Adolf Hitler named his French military unit the ‘Charlemagne Division.’

Further evidence of the Carolingians and Charlemagne’s influence comes from the fact that every year since 1950, in the city of Aachen, Germany (the Carolingian Empire’s symbolic capital), an award is given to any person considered to have made a significant beneficial impact on European unity - the Charlemagne Prize. Notable recipients of this award include Winston Churchill, Pope Francis, and Emmanuel Macron. Apart from the honour of the award, the eponymous prize demonstrates how poignant Charlemagne’s legacy was on European culture. 

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