Did you know the Franks were a Germanic people?
Historically, they occupied central Europe and Scandinavia, and by the 800's these Germanic tribes became the Germanic Dynasties who ruled the western part of the collapsed Roman Empire. These dynasties began both the Holy Roman Empire, as well as the kingdoms of West Francia (modern-day France) and East Francia (modern-day Germany). Wild right? But it was Charlemagne who started the whole thing. And the year 800 kicks it off.
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(Feature Photo: Portrait of Charlemagne painted by Albrecht Dürer in 1511/13, notice the shields with both the German Empire coat of arms (left) and the French coat of arms (right) Credit: Wikimedia Commons)
800
RULERS & ROYALTY: Coenwulf is king of Mercia (midlands of England) – Cynan Dindaethwy is king of Gwynnedd (Wales) – Charlemagne becomes the first emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany) – Leo III is pope/bishop of Rome – Irene of Athens is Empress of the Byzantine Empire – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
During the 9th and 10th centuries, the Gregorian Chant is developed
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Leo Crowns Charlemagne
December 25, The Frankish (Germanic) king Charlemagne is crowned emperor by Pope Leo III in Rome...
...and so begins the Carolingian Empire; the first phase of the Holy Roman (German) Empire and France
The Carolingian Empire is the beginning, or the first phase, of the Holy Roman Empire (German Empire) as well as France ("Franks" or "Frankish" means a Germanic group of people; Franks were first mentioned in the 3rd century by Roman sources, and were associated with tribes who lived between the Lower Rhine and Ems River); The crowning of Charlemagne is part of Pope Leo III's efforts to transfer power from east to west--and he didn't just crown him, he anointed him with holy oil, a western innovation to the ritual; Anointing is reserved for bishops and high-ranking clergy, so by anointing the emperor with holy oil...
...Leo is claiming a "vital and superior role for the Church, which popes of Rome, metropolitans of Russia and archbishops of Canterbury became anxious to perpetuate."
(Byzantium, Pg. 31)
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Tanzania Trades with Arabia, India and China
A port town is built on the island of Kilwa Kisiwani off the Swahili Coast of present-day Tanzania, Africa (it reaches its peak during the 13th and 14th centuries, and is occupied up until the 19th century); The town is a trading city whose prosperity is based on control of Indian Ocean trade with Arabia, India and China (Photo: Mangrove forests on the island of Kilwa Kisiwani in present-day; Credit: Richard Mortel, photo taken on June 26, 2016, Wikimedia Commons)
801
RULERS & ROYALTY: Cynan Dindaethwy is king of Gwynnedd (Wales) – Charlemagne is the first emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany) – Leo III is pope/bishop of Rome – Irene of Athens is Empress of the Byzantine Empire – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
Barcelona, Spain, is captured by Frankish forces from the Islamic Moors, marking the reestablishment of Christian rule in northeastern Spain (History of the World, Map by Map, Pg. 123)
Nennius, the first Welsh historian is flourishing around this date; His Historia Brittonum will become the primary source for British and Celtic history (The Druids, pg. 205)
802
RULERS & ROYALTY: Cynan Dindaethwy is king of Gwynnedd (Wales) – Charlemagne is the first emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany) – Leo III is pope/bishop of Rome – Irene of Athens, Empress of the Byzantine Empire, is succeeded by Nikephoros I – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
803
RULERS & ROYALTY: Cynan Dindaethwy is king of Gwynnedd (Wales) – Charlemagne is the first emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany) – Leo III is pope/bishop of Rome – Nikephoros I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
August 9, Irene of Athens, former empress of the Byzantine Empire, dies in Lesbos
804
RULERS & ROYALTY: Cynan Dindaethwy is king of Gwynnedd (Wales) – Charlemagne is the first emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany) – Leo III is pope/bishop of Rome – Nikephoros I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
805
RULERS & ROYALTY: Cynan Dindaethwy is king of Gwynnedd (Wales) – Charlemagne is the first emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany) – Leo III is pope/bishop of Rome – Nikephoros I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
806
RULERS & ROYALTY: Cynan Dindaethwy is king of Gwynnedd (Wales) – Charlemagne is the first emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany) – Leo III is pope/bishop of Rome – Nikephoros I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
807
RULERS & ROYALTY: Cynan Dindaethwy is king of Gwynnedd (Wales) – Charlemagne is the first emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany) – Leo III is pope/bishop of Rome – Nikephoros I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
808
RULERS & ROYALTY: Cynan Dindaethwy is king of Gwynnedd (Wales) – Charlemagne is the first emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany) – Leo III is pope/bishop of Rome – Nikephoros I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
809
RULERS & ROYALTY: Cynan Dindaethwy is king of Gwynnedd (Wales) – Charlemagne is the first emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany) – Leo III is pope/bishop of Rome – Nikephoros I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
810
RULERS & ROYALTY: Cynan Dindaethwy is king of Gwynnedd (Wales) – Charlemagne is the first emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany) – Leo III is pope/bishop of Rome – Nikephoros I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
811
RULERS & ROYALTY: Cynan Dindaethwy is king of Gwynnedd (Wales) –Charlemagne is the first emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany) – Leo III is pope/bishop of Rome – Nikephoros I, emperor of the Byzantine Empire, dies, and is succeeded by Staurakios, who is usurped by Michael I Rhangabe – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
July 26, Nikephoros I, the Byzantine Emperor, dies at the Battle of Pliska, aged 60-61; Staurakios succeeds him as sole emperor (he had been co-emperor since 803)
October 2, Staurakios, the Byzantine Emperor, is usurped by his brother-in-law, Michael I Rhangabe, and he is sent to live in a monastery (dies next year)
812
RULERS & ROYALTY: Cynan Dindaethwy is king of Gwynnedd (Wales) – Charlemagne is the first emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany) – Leo III is pope/bishop of Rome – Michael I Rhangabe is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
January 11, Former Byzantine Emperor (usurped), Staurakios, dies in a monastery either of gangrene or poisoning by his sister
813
RULERS & ROYALTY: Cynan Dindaethwy is king of Gwynnedd (Wales) – Charlemagne is the first emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany) – Leo III is pope/bishop of Rome – Michael I Rhangabe, emperor of the Byzantine Empire, abdicates the throne, and is succeeded by Leo V "the Armenian" (Michael dies in 844) – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
July 12, Leo V "The Armenian" is crowned emperor of the Byzantine Empire by Pope Leo III (Photo: 12th century illustration of Leo V being proclaimed emperor; Credit: Wikimedia Commons)
814
RULERS & ROYALTY: Cynan Dindaethwy is king of Gwynnedd (Wales) – Charlemagne, the first emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany), dies, and Louis the Pious succeeds him – Leo III is pope/bishop of Rome – Leo V "the Armenian" is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
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The Death of the Frankish (German) Emperor Charlemagne
January 28, Emperor Charlemagne dies, aged 66, in Aechen, Francia and is buried in the cathedral there; Louis the Pious succeeds him as emperor of the Carolingian Empire
Extant of Charlemagne's empire, or the Carolingian Empire, in 814 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
815
RULERS & ROYALTY: Cynan Dindaethwy is king of Gwynnedd (Wales) – Louis the Pious is emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany) – Leo III is pope/bishop of Rome – Leo V "the Armenian" is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
The Iconoclast Council takes place in the Hagia Sophia, a cathedral in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), in Byzantine Empire; The Byzantine Empire is coming down hard on the ban of images (The Roman Catholic Church--which they are not a part of--highly reveres relics and images of the holy family and the saints)
816
RULERS & ROYALTY: Cynan Dindaethwy, king of Gwynnedd (Wales), dies – Louis the Pious is emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany) – Pope Leo III dies and Pope Stephen IV is installed as Bishop of Rome – Leo V "the Armenian" is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
817
RULERS & ROYALTY: – Louis the Pious is emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany) – Pope Stephen IV dies and Pope Paschal I is installed as Bishop of Rome – Leo V "the Armenian" is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
818
RULERS & ROYALTY: – Louis the Pious is emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany) – Paschal I is pope/bishop of Rome – Leo V "the Armenian" is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
819
RULERS & ROYALTY: – Louis the Pious is emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany) – Paschal I is pope/bishop of Rome – Leo V "the Armenian" is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
820
RULERS & ROYALTY: – Louis the Pious is emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany) – Paschal I is pope/bishop of Rome – Leo V "The Armenian," emperor of the Byzantine Empire, dies, and Michael II succeeds him – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
December 25, Leo V "The Armenian" dies, aged 45, and Michael II becomes succeeds him
821
RULERS & ROYALTY: – Louis the Pious is emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany) – Paschal I is pope/bishop of Rome – Michael II is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
822
RULERS & ROYALTY: – Louis the Pious is emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany) – Paschal I is pope/bishop of Rome – Michael II is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
823
RULERS & ROYALTY: – Louis "The Pious" is emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany) – Paschal I is pope/bishop of Rome – Michael II is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
824
RULERS & ROYALTY: – Louis "The Pious" is emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany) – Pope Paschal I dies and Eugene II is installed as Bishop of Rome – Michael II is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
February 11, Pope Paschal I dies and Eugene II is installed as Bishop of Rome
825
RULERS & ROYALTY: – Louis "The Pious" is emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany) – Eugene II is pope/bishop of Rome – Michael II is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
826
RULERS & ROYALTY: – Louis "The Pious" is emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany) – Eugene II is pope/bishop of Rome – Michael II is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
827
RULERS & ROYALTY: – Louis "The Pious" is emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany) – Pope Eugene II dies and Pope Valentine succeeds him, but he dies, and Pope Gregory IV succeeds him – Michael II is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
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Anyone Notice that the Pope's Keep Dying?
August 27, Pope Eugene II dies, and Pope Valentine succeeds him
October 10, Pope Valentine dies, and Pope Gregory IV succeeds him
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828
RULERS & ROYALTY: – Louis "The Pious" is emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany) – Gregory IV is pope/bishop of Rome – Michael II is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
829
RULERS & ROYALTY: – Louis "The Pious" is emperor of the Carolingian Empire (France and Germany) – Gregory IV is pope/bishop of Rome – Michael II is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – The Ghana Empire in West Africa is thriving under the Soninke rulers of the Cissé Tounkara Dynasty (name of current ruler unknown) –
The relics of St. Mark are taken from Alexandria to Venice