Germanic franque

Most of current Germany, then named Germanic , did not know the Roman domination. One can consider that the Germanic territories entered the Moyen-âge not with the fall of the Roman Empire, but with the franque domination and its corollary the catholic evangelization. With the Francs the Germanic world passes from a whole of people, tribes, clans with a mosaic of State S, kingdoms, national duchies, of county S and Marche S.

The Germanic one under control mérovingien

Under the dynasty of the Mérovingiens (Life-VIIIe century) of which the founder, Clovis (Ludovicus), a Franc neustrien, converts with the Christian religion with Rheims towards 496 and extends its domination to the east of the the Rhine. In 506, after its victory with Tolbiac (today Zülpich, close to Cologne) over the Alamans, it annexes a territory ranging between the Meuse and the Weser, except the north which remains under the domination of the Saxons and of the Frisons (see frank Royaumes).

The wire of Clovis still increase the kingdom of the Francs towards the East by making the conquest of:

The greatest southernmost part of the ex- FRG is then under franque domination.

At the 7th century, the weakening of the franque dynasty causes changes of a territorial nature:

The area located between the Meuse, the the Rhine and the Main is controlled by a king mérovingien: it is the Austrasie. The mayors of the palate austrasiens take more and more the ascending one on the king and the family of the Pippinides starts to be characterized by her richness and her influence with the head from this function. Areas take autonomy more and more, with the periphery of the kingdom of the Francs. They are called territorial principalities because they are controlled by Dynastie S of frank princes, who do not belong to the mérovingienne family. These principalities were formed on a regional principle and obey in theory with the king mérovingien who remains despite everything the only source of legitimacy. On the current German territory, these principalities are:

  • the duchy of Thuringe,
  • the duchy of Alémanie,
  • the duchy of Bavaria.
Lastly, the period mérovingienne is that of an intense missionary activity in the east of the the Rhine: Willibrord and Winfryd deals with évangéliser the Germanic one. As of 739, Boniface fixes the dioceses of Ratisbon, Freising, Passau and Salzburg. In 741, it founds the first episcopal see of Thuringe. It also creates the dioceses of Büraburg and Erfurt as well as the monastery of Fulda in 744. It reorganizes the dioceses of Bavaria.

Carolingian time

With the Carolingian , mainly Charlemagne, the space controlled by the Francs extends considerably towards the east. His/her grandfather Charles Martel joins together the three kingdoms under his control, in 688, after having overcome the aristocracy of Burgundy and Neustrie, before launching out in the conquest of new teritoires.

Tender of the Bavaria

Bavaria is with the hands of the dynasty of the Agilolfing ues since 550. After the death of the duke Odilon of Bavaria, in 748, his wife Hiltrude, sister of Pip the Brief, exerts regency for his/her son Tassilon. In 757, Tassilon lends oath of fidelity to Pépin the Brief, with the plaid of Compiegne. But it follows then a dangerous policy of autonomy with respect to the king of the Francs. He concludes in particular a matrimonial alliance with the lombarde Liutberge. He joins together Concile S and the pope Adrien baptizes his son in 772. This is why Charlemagne requires a renewal of its oath in 787: Tassilon then receives the solemn nomination of its duchy of Bavaria. But following a plot with the Avars, Charlemagne locks up it with the Abbaye of Jumièges (788), and with its death in 794 Bavaria enters the direct inheritance of the Carolingians. She is then entrusted to the brother-in-law of Charlemagne, Gérold. In 798, Arn of Salzburg becomes the first archbishop of Bavaria.

Conquest of the Saxony

According to several legends, the Saxon ones descend from the Danish, the Normand S or the remainders of the army of Alexandre Large the. The Saxons occupied the current area of Lower Saxony and belonged to the group of the Germains of north. They were organized in tribes gathered in three principal people: the Ostphaliens in the Harz, the Angariens and the Westphalian S in the east of the the Rhine. The Saxon ones were pagan and the close Francs sought with the évangéliser, without success. At the beginning of the 8th century, the Saxon raids threaten the kingdom of the Francs: the mayors of the palate Pippinide S set up of armed forwardings, without conquest (720 - 738; 742 - 745). The king Pépin III the Brief must also intervene.

But it is his/her son Charlemagne who launches a war of approximately 30 years, starting from 772: this last destroys the Saxon sanctuary of Irminsul, making disappear a place from pagan sacrifices. According to the Saxon ones, Irminsul was a tree supporting the Sky, close to the Weser. In reprisals, the Saxon ones attack the monastery of Fritzlar in the Hesse and plunder évêché of Büraburg. The war against the Saxon ones is supported by an effort of evangelization of these people. The Christian king of the Francs installs churches with Heresburg and Syburg. In 777, Charles sends Saint Sturm, abbot of Fulda and disciple of Boniface on mission in Saxony. The following year, a general rising carried out by the chief Saxon Widukind leads to the franque defeat of the Süntelgebirge. Charlemagne makes decapitate several thousands of Saxon prisoners with Verden and orders to the Déportation several clans towards the kingdom of the Francs. It enacts in 785 a first Saxon Capitulaire ( Of partibus Saxoniae ) which severely condemns (capital punishment) the murders of priests, pagan practices (incineration). It sets up the forced baptism and requires the Saxon ones that they lend oath of fidelity to the king of the Francs. In 792 - 793, a new revolt agitates the Saxony whereas the evangelization does not give any result.

The baptism of Widukind to the royal palace of Attigny under the sponsorship of Charlemagne was to convert the elites saxonnes and to bring back peace. The deportations continue in Nordalbingie. In 797, Charlemagne founds new a capitulary Saxon , more lenient than the precedent. The capital punishment is abolished against the pagan ones and is commuted to fines. The disorders gradually cease towards 799. Lastly, towards 802 - 803, the law of Saxon the is put in writing and integrates Saxony in the new Empire caroligien.

Carolingian forwardings beyond Elba

Charlemagne undertakes several attacks against the Slaves installed in the east of the Elba. The latter are divided into ten people among whom one counts the Wilzes, them Sorbes (or Sorabe S), the Linons and the Abodrites (or Obodrites). They live trade, fishing and Agriculture and is often made the war between them. The Carolingian emperor benefits from these divisions to extend his influence. He and its successors organizes this territory called Marche of Slavic the .

Chronology of franques forwardings:

  • 782 : Defeat with the Süntelgebirge against Sorabes
  • 789: Charlemagne goes up the Havel
  • 806: the duke of Sorabes is killed

Chronology of the conquest

689 : The duchy of Frise is built-in the kingdom of the Francs.
709 - 712: war of the Francs and the Alamans
728: Charles Martel reduces the Alémanie, Thuringe, the Bavaria and attacks the Saxony.
730 : Charles Martel beats the Alamans.
734 : Conquest of the Plank
741: With the death of Charles Martel, rising of Alamans and Bavarian
746: Massacre of Cannstatt, assassination of the majority of the Germanic leaders
772: Beginning of the conquest of the Saxony
January 775: At the time of the assembly of Large to Quierzy-on-Oise, Charlemagne prepares the invasion of Saxony.
777 : After various franques forwardings, accompanied by destruction of fortified towns and taking of hostages, the Saxon ones, to the Diet of Paderborn, are subjected and promised to give their life and their weapons like guarantee of their fidelity.
782 : The Saxon chief Widukind opposes the Francs and a defeat imposes to them.
787 : Foundation of the town of Bremen on the Weser
788: The Francs occupy the territory in the east of the Elba.
789 : The Bavaria is annexed by Charlemagne.
791 : The Bohemia recognizes the Suzeraineté Francs.
793 : Revolt saxonne
803: Charlemagne constitutes the Marche of the East ( Ostmark ) origin of the Austria.
804 : The Francs dominate Germany of the North of the Rhine to the Elba.
805 : The Francs make the conquest of Bohemia.

The organization of the Carolingian empire

Evangelization of the Germanic world

to develop

See also Holy Boniface (archbishop of Mainz); Christianization; posterity: Baltic Crusades (IXe)

Chronology of the evangelization

678 : Wilfrid in Plank

690: Willibrord, of Northumbrie, unloads in Frise for évangéliser the populations autochtones.
695 : Willibrord is named bishop of Utrecht to the Netherlands
696: Foundation of the Monastery of Salzburg on the ruins of a Roman city.
719 : Boniface is sent by the pope évangéliser the Hesse and the Thuringe.
721 : Boniface saint, évangélise the area of Hesse into Germanic.
722 : Boniface is crowned bishop in Rome and receives for mission of continuing the ecclesiastical organization of the Germanic one.
724 : Foundation of the Monastery of Reichenau, Germanic ground first, on an island of the Lake of Constancy.
731 : Saint Boniface makes the systematic christianization of Thuringe.
742 : A first Synode on German ground is held in the presence of Boniface.
744 : Saint Boniface founds the Monastère of Fulda in Hesse.
746 : Boniface becomes archbishop of Mainz
764: Construction of the Abbey of Lorsch by Landrade and his/her brother Cancor.
769 : Beginning of christianization in Carinthie.
777 : The Saxon ones are converted of force to the Christian faith by the Francs.
782 : The Saxon ones refusing the Baptême are condemned to died by Charlemagne.
796 : Construction of the vault of the palate of Charlemagne to Aachen.
808 : The Christianisme penetrates in Germany until the Elba.
814 - 815: Creation of the dioceses of Halbersadt and Hildesheim.
822 : Foundation of the monastery of Corvey, in Saxony.

Installation of the feudal system

Birth of Germany

See also: Germany of the Early middle ages

  • In 817, the Carolingian emperor Louis the Piles decides to regulate its succession: he holds the imperial crown with his son Lothaire and equips his sons juniors by peripheral kingdoms: thus, Bavaria falls to Louis Germanic the and the duchy of Souabe is made up for Charles (the Bald person), born from a third marriage with Judith of Bavaria.

  • In 840, Lothaire Ier succeeds his/her father as an emperor of Occident. But his/her two younger brothers, Louis the Germanic one and Charles the Bald person league against him by the Serments of Strasbourg and gain the battle of Fontenay-in-Puisaye into 841.
  • In 843, the Traité of Verdun division the old empire of Charlemagne in three parts: the Western Francie (ancestor of France), the Lotharingie and the Eastern Francie (ancestor of Germany). This last kingdom, controlled by Louis the Germanic one, is located at the east of the Rhine and includes/understands Saxony, Austrasie, Alémanie and Bavaria.

Kings de Francie Eastern (Germanic)

  • Louis II Germanic the

Under the reign of Louis II the Germanic one, the territory is cleared and framed by large the Monastère S. the land fields are with the hands of the aristocracy and are cultivated by dependant peasants. Louis must face inclinations of revolt of his sons for finally envisaging an official division.

  • Louis the Germanic one dies in 876; it leaves several wire:
    • Carloman, inherits Bavaria, dead into 880; the area passes then in the hands of his/her bastard son, Arnulf de Carinthie; but this last leaves the capacity to its Liutpold nephew who dies in 907 as a combatant the Hungarians.
    • Louis III, the young person, died in 882, directs Saxony and Franconie.
    • Charles the Large, died into 888, has initially Alémanie, then becomes king de Germanie from 882 to 887 , and also emperor of Occident (881 - 888). It is Arnulf de Carinthie which succeeds between 887 to him and 899 . But with his death, his/her son Louis the Child is only 6 years old. With died of Louis the Child into 911, the Large ones elect a sovereign not-Carolingian, Conrad de Franconie (Conrad Ier) with the head of the kingdom of Germanic.

  • the Germanic one breaks up into increasingly autonomous territorial principalities in second half of the 9th century: Franconie, Bavaria, Thuringe (annexed in 908 by Saxony), Souabe, Saxony which has a certain identity ethnic and cultural… They benefit from the minority of Louis and the weakness of Conrad Ier to follow independent policies. But they must also face the Hungarian, Scandinavian and Slavic invasions. Among all these large dukes, that of Saxony seems most powerful: it is about Henri the Bird-catcher, of the house of Liudolfides, indirectly related with the Carolingians. Conrad sends the royal badges to him, it is his/her cousin. Henri is elected king de Francie Orientale in 919 at the time of the assembly of Large to Fritzlar and remains with the capacity until his death in 936.

Scandinavian and Hungarian invasions

The current German territory is subjected to the IX {{E}} and 10th centuries with two threats: that of the Viking S, arriving by boat of north, and that of the Hungarian, coming from the east.

  • 845 : destruction of Hamburg by the Vikings.
  • 862 : first Hungarian raid into Germanic.
  • 908 - 909: Hungarian raids into Germanic.
  • 924 : new Hungarian attacks.

The reign of Henri Ier, the Bird-catcher (919-936)

Henri the Bird-catcher took again on his account the policy Carolingians, although it is not resulting directly from this dynasty. He dealt with restoring the monarchical authority on the whole of the dukes of Germanic and pushing back the invasions. He takes again Danish walk in north; he contains the Slavic ones on Elba; he intervenes in Bohemia. He strengthens the castles of the south of Germanic and reorganizes the army. He is victorious of the Hungarians. He inaugurates the Drang nach Osten . He sends missions Chrétienne S for évangéliser the Scandinavia. He makes elect his oldest son Otton, king de Germanie, to avoid the division of his kingdom after his death.

The Saint Worsens Roman Germanic

  • to see the detailed article Holy Germanic Roman Empire

See too

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