Carolingian Empire

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The Carolingian Empire (800–888) was the final stage in the history of the early medieval realm of the Franks, ruled by the Carolingian dynasty. The size of the empire at its zenith around 800 was 1,112,000 km2, with a population of between 10 and 20 million people.[1]


According to the American Heritage Dictionary, the term "Carolingian" comes from the French terms "Carolingien" and "Carlovingien", probably a blend of Carolus (Latin for Charles) and "Mérovingien".

Buildup and defense of the Frankish Realm[edit]




Pepin III accepted the nomination as king by Pope Zachary in about 751. Charlemagne's rule began in 768 at Pepin's death. He proceeded to take control over the kingdom following his brother Carloman's death, as the two brothers co-inherited their father's kingdom. Charlemagne was crowned Roman Emperor in the year 800.[3]

The Empire during the reign of Charlemagne (768–814)[edit]




The Empire until the Treaty of Verdun (814–840)[edit]

Louis the Pious on a sesquisolidus





Main article: Treaty of Verdun
Carolingian empire 843-888





The Empire in decline (877–888)[edit]

Carolingian Empire after the Treaty of Meerssen




Divisions of the Empire in 887[edit]

The Empire of the Carolingians was divided: Arnulf maintained Carinthia, Bavaria, Lorraine and modern Germany; Count Odo of Paris was elected King of Western Francia (France), Ranulf II became King of Aquitaine, Italy went to Count Berengar of Friuli, Upper Burgundy to Rudolph I, and Lower Burgundy to Louis the Blind, the son of Boso of Arles, King of Lower Burgundy and maternal grandson of Emperor Louis II. The other part of Lotharingia became the duchy of Burgundy.[7]


It has long been held that the dominance of the Carolingian military was based on a "cavalry revolution" led by Charles Martel in 730s. However, the stirrup, which made the 'shock cavalry' lance charge possible, was not introduced to the Frankish kingdom until the late eighth century.[8] Instead, the Carolingian military success rested primarily on novel siege technologies and excellent logistics.[9] However, large numbers of horses were used by the Frankish military during the age of Charlemagne. This was because horses provided a quick, long-distance method of transporting troops, which was critical to building and maintaining such a large empire.[8]


The largest cities in the Carolingian Empire around the year 800:

Rome 50,000. Paris 25,000. Regensburg 25,000. Metz 25,000. Mainz 20,000. Speyer 20,000. Tours 20,000. Trier 15,000. Cologne 15,000. Lyon 12,000. Worms 10,000. Poitiers 10,000. Provins 10,000. Rennes 10,000. Rouen 10,000.[10][11][12]


List of modern countries within the Frankish Empire[edit]

This is a list of modern countries that are fully or partly situated on the territory of the Frankish Empire at its height, just before the treaty of Verdun in 843.

  • Completely incorporated into the Empire
  • Partially incorporated into the Empire

See also[edit]


  1. ^ Post-Roman towns, trade and settlement in Europe and Byzantium – Joachim Henning – Google Břger. Retrieved 24 December 2014. The size of the Carolingian empire can be roughly estimated at 1,112,000 km² 
  2. ^ "Carolingian Empire". A Dictionary of World History. Retrieved 2008-04-07. 
  3. ^ Rosamond McKitterick, Charlemagne: The Formation of a European Identity, Cambridge University Press, 2008 ISBN 978-0-521-88672-7
  4. ^ Joanna Story, Charlemagne: Empire and Society, Manchester University Press, 2005 ISBN 978-0-7190-7089-1
  5. ^ "Die Geburt zweier Staaten – Die Straßburger Eide vom 14. Februar 842 | Wir Europäer | DW.DE | 21.07.2009". 2009-07-21. Retrieved 2013-03-26. 
  6. ^ Eric Joseph Goldberg, Struggle for Empire: Kingship and Conflict Under Louis the German, 817–876, Cornell University Press, 2006 ISBN 978-0-8014-3890-5
  7. ^ Simon MacLean, Kingship and Politics in the Late Ninth Century: Charles the Fat and the End of the Carolingian Empire, Cambridge University Press, 2003 ISBN 978-0-521-81945-9
  8. ^ a b Hooper, Nicholas / Bennett, Matthew. The Cambridge Illustrated Atlas of Warfare: the Middle Ages Cambridge University Press, 1996, pg. 12–13 ISBN 0-521-44049-1, ISBN 978-0-521-44049-3
  9. ^ Bowlus, Charles R. The Battle of Lechfeld and its Aftermath, August 955: The End of the Age of Migrations in the Latin West Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2006, pg. 49 ISBN 0-7546-5470-2, ISBN 978-0-7546-5470-4
  10. ^ Bachrach, B. (2013). Charlemagne's Early Campaigns (768-777): A Diplomatic and Military Analysis. Brill. p. 67. ISBN 9789004244771. Retrieved 2014-10-06. 
  11. ^ Dudley, L. (2008). Information Revolutions in the History of the West. Edward Elgar. p. 26. ISBN 9781848442801. Retrieved 2014-10-06. 
  12. ^ ";jsessionid=6623384256ACCA3FE866FD3FA5B08292?sequence=1" (PDF). Retrieved 2014-10-06. 

External links[edit]