Background
- after Western Rome fell, German Franks, led by Clovis, swept in and conquered Gaul. He was the first king of all the Frankish tribes.
- 732, Muslims conquered Spain, marched into France, but were defeated at the Battle of Tours by the Franks and Charles Martel. It was Muslims farthest reach into Western Europe.
- when the Franks helped the Pope defeat the Lombard’s in Italy, Pepin the Short was blessed and made king. His son Charlemagne expanded the Frankish Empire to its greatest extent, unifying much of Western Europe.
- 800, on Christmas day, the Pope crowned Charlemagne Holy Roman Emperor.
- 814, Charlemagne died, and his kingdom split three ways; France, Germany, and Lorraine.
- when Vikings raided, county administrators, or Counts, built castles for protection. Peasants looked to them, they gained power, and Feudalism began.
- 1095, a Crusade was launched to help eastern Byzantium. It was beginning of 200-year period of Holy Wars sanctioned mostly by France, Germany, and the Pope. Notably, England's Richard the Lionheart helped lead one Crusade versus Saladin.
- 1300's, Mongols controlled Eurasia, and peace swept over. Information spread west, and France’s knighthood flourished. Soon France and England were at war.