Leader Analysis Sheet Essays - Europe, 1st Millennium, Royal Titles

Leader Analysis Sheet Name of Leader: Charlemagne Lifespan: 743 AD - 814 AD (71 Years Old) Title: Holy Roman Emperor; King of the Lombards Country/region: Roman Empire; Present-day France Years in Power: October 9th ,768 - January 28th 814 (14 Years) Political, social, and economic conditions prior to leader gaining power: -The main systems of government were manorialism and feudalism. Although both were popular, they were very harsh on the peasants and middle-class. -The Catholic Church provided the only solid example of stability, with the Pope leading and anointing bishops. -Most of the population consisted illiterate peasants who saw Christianity as there only option. -Failure in trade led to the fall of Rome, allowing systems such as manorialism to be a substitute; serfs paying their landlords with crops in exchange for protection. Ideology, Motivation, Goals: Charlemagne wanted only the best for his people, and wanted to expand the Frankish empire like never before. He wanted to reunite with Western Europe and restore the glory of the Roman Empire. Significant actions and events during term of power: -Helped restore church-based education -Crowned Emperor of the Romans by Pope Leo III -Came into contact with the Danish people in the northern part of Western Europe and conquered them -Regained Spanish land from the Muslims Short-Term Effects: -The Roman Empire would be split into thirds after his death and given to his three grandsons. This would later become Germany, France, and parts of central Europe. -Western Europe would once again fall as no one had enough power to firmly rule. -Successors tried to claim his title but failed due to their heavy reliance on imperial claims to build a solid monarchy. Long-Term Effects: -After Charlemagne's death, no single empire could exist, and only monarchies had real power. -Western Europe would have a diverse amount of different governments and politics, but would have cultural unity in Roman Christianity. - Individual states would become nations that would for a time be headed by monarchies.