Charlemagne - Audio Biography of Charles cover art

Charlemagne - Audio Biography of Charles

Charlemagne - Audio Biography of Charles

By: Quiet. Please
Listen for free

About this listen

 Charlemagne - Audio Biography: The Life and Legacy of a Medieval EmperorStep into the fascinating world of Charlemagne, the legendary Frankish king and emperor, with "Charlemagne - Audio Biography." This engaging podcast delves into the life and times of one of history's most influential figures, offering listeners an in-depth look at his remarkable journey from king to emperor and his enduring impact on Europe.

Whether you're a history enthusiast or new to medieval studies, "Charlemagne - Audio Biography" offers a captivating and informative experience.

Subscribe now to "Charlemagne - Audio Biography" on [platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts] and embark on a journey through the life of a ruler whose influence transcends centuries.

Keywords: Charlemagne biography, medieval history, Frankish king, Carolingian Empire, Charlemagne podcast, historical figures, medieval studies, European history, Charlemagne's life, emperor biography, history podcast.









Copyright 2024 Quiet. Please Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Charlemagne Biography

    Charlemagne Biography
    May 27 2024
    Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great or Charles I, was one of the most influential and powerful rulers of medieval Europe. Born in the 8th century, he became King of the Franks and went on to build a vast empire that would shape the course of European history for centuries to come.Charlemagne was born around 742 AD in Herstal, a town in present-day Belgium. He was the eldest son of Pepin the Short, the King of the Franks, and Bertrada of Laon. Charlemagne's exact date of birth is unknown, but it is believed to have been on April 2nd, based on a reference in the Lorsch Abbey calendar.Pepin the Short, Charlemagne's father, had risen to power through a series of military conquests and political maneuverings. He had deposed the last Merovingian king, Childeric III, with the support of the Pope, and had himself crowned as the first Carolingian king in 751 AD. Pepin's reign marked the beginning of a new era in Frankish history, as the Carolingians would go on to rule for more than two centuries.Charlemagne grew up in a time of great change and turmoil in Europe. The Western Roman Empire had fallen centuries earlier, and the continent was divided into a patchwork of kingdoms and principalities. The Franks, under Pepin's leadership, had emerged as one of the most powerful of these kingdoms, controlling much of present-day France and parts of Germany.As a young man, Charlemagne received a thorough education in the arts of war and governance. He learned to read and write in Latin, which was the language of the Church and of scholarship at the time. He also studied history, theology, and the classics, and developed a lifelong love of learning that would later lead him to establish a palace school at his court.In 768 AD, Pepin the Short died, and his kingdom was divided between his two sons, Charlemagne and his younger brother Carloman. The brothers ruled jointly for a time, but tensions soon arose between them. In 771 AD, Carloman died suddenly, leaving Charlemagne as the sole ruler of the Frankish kingdom.As king, Charlemagne set out to expand and consolidate his territory through a series of military campaigns. His first major victory came in 774 AD, when he invaded the Kingdom of the Lombards in northern Italy. The Lombards had been a thorn in the side of the Papacy for years, and Pope Adrian I had called on Charlemagne for help. Charlemagne defeated the Lombard king, Desiderius, and annexed his territory to the Frankish kingdom.Charlemagne's next major campaign was against the Saxons, a pagan tribe that inhabited the regions of present-day northern Germany and the Netherlands. The Saxons had long resisted Frankish rule and had frequently raided Frankish territories. In 772 AD, Charlemagne launched a series of military campaigns against the Saxons that would last for more than three decades.The Saxon Wars, as they came to be known, were a brutal and bloody conflict. Charlemagne's armies devastated Saxon lands, destroying pagan shrines and forcibly converting the population to Christianity. The Saxons, led by their chief Widukind, put up a fierce resistance, but were eventually defeated. In 785 AD, Widukind submitted to Charlemagne and was baptized as a Christian.With the Saxons subdued, Charlemagne turned his attention to other parts of Europe. In 788 AD, he annexed the Duchy of Bavaria, which had been ruled by his cousin Tassilo III. In 795 AD, he launched a campaign against the Avars, a nomadic people who inhabited the Carpathian Basin in present-day Hungary. The Avars were eventually defeated, and their territory was incorporated into the Frankish kingdom.Charlemagne's military campaigns were not limited to Europe. In 778 AD, he led an expedition into Spain to aid the Abbasid caliph of Baghdad against the Umayyad Emirate of Córdoba. The campaign was a failure, and Charlemagne's army was forced to retreat after suffering heavy losses at the Battle of Roncevaux Pass. This battle would later be immortalized in the famous medieval epic poem "The Song of Roland."Despite the setback in Spain, Charlemagne's military campaigns had greatly expanded the Frankish kingdom. By the end of his reign, he controlled a vast territory that stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the Danube River, and from the Mediterranean Sea to the North Sea. He had also established a system of government that would serve as a model for medieval European monarchies for centuries to come.Charlemagne was not just a military leader, but also a skilled administrator and politician. He understood the importance of establishing a strong central government to hold his vast empire together. To this end, he implemented a number of important reforms and innovations in the areas of law, education, and religion.One of Charlemagne's most important legal reforms was the establishment of a standardized system of justice throughout his empire. He issued a series of laws and decrees, known as capitularies, that laid out the rights and responsibilities...
    Show More Show Less
    12 mins

What listeners say about Charlemagne - Audio Biography of Charles

Average Customer Ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Audible.com.au reviews

Amazon Reviews
No Reviews are Available
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.