The Carolingian dynasty managed to unite the Frankishthe state is under its authority. Before them in the country ruled the weak Merovingians. Karl Martell was a popular warlord and courtier, although he was not considered a king. He managed to defeat the Arabs in the Battle of Poitiers in 732. After this event, the coming to power of his dynasty became only a matter of time.
Karl Martell failed to catch the startboard of the Carolingian dynasty. He passed away in 741. His son Pepin Short inherited from him the title of the Mayor of the Franks. However, as before, there was an institution of royal power, the bearers of which were the Merovingians.
Thus, Pepin was the feudal lord of the second hand,who ruled in the provinces of Neustria, Provence and Burgundy. Part of his father's allotment passed to his brother Carloman. The brothers often fought in the union against numerous enemies. The beginning of the reign of the Carolingian dynasty was marked by battles with the Germanic tribes from the east - the Bavarians and the Alemannians.
In 742, the war was declared to the Carolingians by the DukeAquitaine Gounal. He, like many other feudal lords, believed that the brothers usurped power in the state. Gounald managed to plunder a few small towns, after which he was knocked out of these lands. However, afterwards, Pepin nevertheless promoted the reign of the new King Hilderik III of the Merovingian dynasty. He did not have actual power and had little resources to fight with powerful feudal lords.
Several years have passed in the squabbling between the dukes andgraphs. Finally, Pipin sent an embassy to the Pope, who asked if he had the right to be a king who did not have actual power. Zachary answered that the most powerful and influential must rule. This served as a green light for Pipin.
To the beginning of the reign of the Carolingian dynastyformally legal, he organized a meeting of the Franks in Soissons. It happened in 751 year. On it numerous faithful feudal lords and aristocrats voted for Pipin. Hilderik was sent to the monastery (this was a frequent measure in the Middle Ages). This was the beginning of the reign of the Carolingian dynasty. The year 752 of the Nativity of Christ became significant for this kind.
The new king had to prove hislegitimacy and consistency. The first to oppose the new government were the restless Saxons. The beginning of the reign of the Carolingian dynasty was marked by a war with this tribe. The king with the army reached the river Weser, where the Saxons were defeated. After that, they began to pay the Franks even more tribute than before. In addition, they were still pagans, so it was at this time that the Christian missionaries began their preaching activities in still wild Germany.
Pipin's faithful ally was the Pope, withfiling which the new king and received power. Therefore, the Franks defended the Father of the Church every time he was threatened by the neighboring Lombards, who ruled over much of modern Italy. In 752, their leader, Aysthlf, invaded the vicinity of Rome. The new Pope Stephen III sent a letter to the Franks asking for revenue. This was the very beginning of the reign of the Carolingian dynasty. The date of the coronation barely stayed behind, but Pepin went to Rome, despite the danger of uprisings in the rear.
The trip was successful. The leader of the Lombards was defeated. He undertook to give the Pope an important city of Ravenna. In addition, he paid the francs a large indemnity and temporarily stopped the aggressive policy directed against Rome.
In domestic politics, Pepin is also activesupported the Church. He believed that it was this organization that could become one of the main pillars of the state. The king introduced a new tax - a tithe. This money was paid by all residents of the Frankish state. The funds went to the account of the Church.
Pipin also supported the army. His father began the practice of distributing land for service. The new king continued this policy, which allowed him to strengthen his power. Although this measure was the reason for the further feudal disunity of Western Europe throughout the Middle Ages.
Pipin died in the year 768. It was they who laid the foundation for the rule of the Carolingian dynasty. The formation of the Frankish state of a new model was successfully completed. In a few decades, his son Charles will become an emperor in the likeness of the Roman rulers of the glorious European past.
