Charlemagne and the Christian Campaign free essay sample

An analysis of the rise of Charlemagne onto the European stage, his consolidation of autocracy and the partnership with the Christian church. Charlemagne was one of the greatest emperors that Europe has ever seen and this paper details how he came to power, what it took to stay in power, and how he lost his power. Included is his involvement with the Church and the first Crusades to spread Catholicism. During the reign of Charlemagne, from 768 to 814 A.D., the growth of the Church in the west gained increasing power over its eastern counterparts. Charlemagne, the son of Pepin the Short, was indoctrinated with the Christian religion early in his life, and as a result he grew to become the leading proponent of Christian belief throughout the west. He continued the role of papal protector in Italy and his fathers policy of territorial conquest in the north. After defeating King Desiderius and the Lombards in 774 he crowned himself King of the Lombards. We will write a custom essay sample on Charlemagne and the Christian Campaign or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He began to increase the size of his kingdom by forcibly converting pagans into Christianity. His most difficult conquest was converting the Saxons into loyal Christian citizens. Thus, after thirty-three years of war the Saxons accepted Charlemagnes terms and renounced their religion and customs and adopted those of Christianity, while those that refused were relocated throughout Gaul and Germany. In 800 A.D. on Christmas day Pope Leo III, who was imprisoned by the Roman aristocracy a year earlier but escaped to the protection of Charlemagne who then restored him as pope, crowned Charlemagne emperor.