OCR Specification focus:
‘Situation in the Frankish lands on Charlemagne’s accession in 768; succession disputes with Carloman 768–771.’
At the moment of Charlemagne’s accession in 768, the Frankish kingdom was politically unstable, militarily ambitious, and socially fragmented. Understanding this situation is essential to appreciating the challenges and opportunities faced by the new king.
The Frankish Kingdom in 768
The Frankish kingdom, ruled by the Carolingian dynasty, was the most powerful political entity in western Europe by the mid-eighth century. Its expansion under Pepin the Short had created an enlarged and diverse realm, encompassing vast territories stretching from Aquitaine to the Rhineland. However, this inheritance also brought instability, as issues of governance, succession, and loyalty remained unresolved.
Geographic and Political Context
The kingdom was large and ethnically diverse, including Franks, Saxons, Aquitanians, Lombards, and Bavarians.
Effective rule depended on balancing central authority with the autonomy of regional nobles and counts.
The Merovingian precedent of weak royal authority still lingered, despite Pepin’s efforts to strengthen Carolingian legitimacy through papal alliance.
Internal Challenges
Frequent noble revolts challenged royal control.
The vast distances and poor communication limited centralised governance.
Regional identities, particularly in Aquitaine and Bavaria, fostered resistance to Frankish dominance.
Charlemagne’s Accession in 768
On Pepin the Short’s death in 768, the Frankish custom of partible inheritance was followed. The realm was divided between his two sons: Charlemagne (Charles) and Carloman.
Partible Inheritance: A Frankish custom by which a king’s lands were divided among his male heirs, rather than passing intact to a single ruler.
Charlemagne was given Neustria, Aquitaine, and the northern territories, while Carloman received Austrasia, Alemannia, and Burgundy. Both ruled as kings, but the division ensured rivalry.
Map of the Frankish kingdom between 768 and 771, clearly showing the territorial division between Charlemagne’s and Carloman’s realms. Source
Coronation and Legitimacy
Charlemagne was anointed by the papacy, reinforcing Carolingian legitimacy.
West façade of Noyon Cathedral, associated with Charlemagne’s consecration in 768. The site emphasises the importance of anointing in legitimising his rule. Source
The Frankish monarchy relied on the idea of being God’s chosen ruler, upheld through close ties with the Church.
However, dual kingship threatened unity, with the papacy and nobles often playing one brother against the other.
Succession Disputes: 768–771
The three years of joint rule were dominated by rivalry and tension between Charlemagne and Carloman.
Sources of Dispute
Personality and Ambition: Contemporary chroniclers depict Charlemagne as more charismatic and politically astute than Carloman, leading to friction.
Division of Lands: The partition created unnatural borders, especially in Aquitaine, where campaigns against rebels demanded cooperation.
Factional Politics: Nobles often aligned themselves with one brother, deepening divisions within the aristocracy.
The Aquitanian Rebellion
In 769, a rebellion erupted in Aquitaine under Duke Hunald II.
Charlemagne took decisive action, suppressing the revolt and forcing Hunald into exile.
Carloman, however, refused to support his brother, highlighting the fragility of joint kingship.
This episode undermined Carloman’s credibility and enhanced Charlemagne’s reputation as a warrior-king.
Carloman’s Death and Charlemagne’s Sole Rule
In 771, Carloman died suddenly, leaving his lands to his two young sons. Instead of supporting his nephews, the Frankish nobility defected to Charlemagne, allowing him to become the sole ruler.
Effigy of Carloman I at Saint-Denis, representing the co-king whose sudden death in 771 enabled Charlemagne to become sole ruler of the Frankish realm. Source
Factors Behind Charlemagne’s Success
Noble Support: Aristocrats preferred Charlemagne’s proven leadership and military ability.
Church Backing: The papacy supported Charlemagne, partly due to his willingness to defend papal interests in Italy.
Carloman’s Weakness: His refusal to aid Charlemagne in Aquitaine and his cautious policies weakened his authority.
Anointing: A ceremonial blessing of kings by the Church, conferring divine legitimacy on their rule
By 771, Charlemagne had consolidated power over the entire Frankish realm, creating the foundation for his later conquests and imperial ambitions.
Importance of the Succession Struggle
The events of 768–771 highlight critical themes in the early Carolingian period:
The dangers of partible inheritance, which threatened the unity of the kingdom.
The importance of military success in gaining and maintaining legitimacy.
The central role of the papacy in sanctioning Carolingian authority.
The reliance of kings on noble loyalty, which could shift quickly based on perceptions of competence.
Key Points for Students
Charlemagne inherited a powerful but unstable kingdom in 768.
His succession rivalry with Carloman weakened central authority but gave him opportunities to prove his capability.
Carloman’s death in 771 transformed Charlemagne from co-king to sole ruler, positioning him to embark on the wars of conquest that defined his reign.
FAQ
Frankish succession customs emphasised dividing land equally among male heirs, which prevented the stability of a single ruler.
This meant that in 768 the kingdom was split between Charlemagne and Carloman, creating two rival power bases. Unlike primogeniture, this system encouraged disputes, as each ruler sought to assert dominance, and nobles often exploited this division to pursue their own interests.
Aquitaine had a strong tradition of resistance to Frankish authority. Pepin the Short had waged long wars there, but unrest persisted.
In 769, rebellion broke out under Duke Hunald II. Charlemagne acted decisively to crush it, but Carloman’s refusal to help deepened mistrust between the brothers. Aquitaine’s unrest highlighted how divided leadership undermined effective control.
The papacy had a vested interest in supporting strong rulers who could defend Rome from Lombard threats.
Initially, both Charlemagne and Carloman were recognised as legitimate rulers.
However, after Carloman’s inaction in Aquitaine, the papacy leaned towards Charlemagne.
Papal endorsement increased Charlemagne’s legitimacy and helped ensure noble support after Carloman’s sudden death.
Contemporary sources, though biased, portrayed Charlemagne as energetic, charismatic, and militarily decisive.
Carloman, by contrast, was described as cautious and less capable of commanding loyalty. His refusal to act during key events, like the Aquitanian revolt, reinforced this perception. These personality differences fuelled rivalry and shaped noble allegiances.
Carloman’s death ended the unstable dual monarchy and created a power vacuum.
His young sons were too weak to claim his lands effectively.
Many nobles quickly shifted allegiance to Charlemagne, recognising him as the stronger figure.
This transfer of loyalty allowed Charlemagne to unify the kingdom without a prolonged civil war, laying the foundation for later expansion.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks):
Name the two sons of Pepin the Short who divided the Frankish kingdom after his death in 768.
Mark scheme:
1 mark for correctly naming Charlemagne (Charles).
1 mark for correctly naming Carloman.
Question 2 (6 marks):
Explain two reasons why the joint rule of Charlemagne and Carloman between 768 and 771 created instability in the Frankish kingdom.
Mark scheme:
Up to 3 marks for each well-explained reason (maximum 6 marks).
Award 1 mark for identification of a relevant reason, 1 mark for development, and 1 mark for clear explanation of its significance.
Possible answers:
Division of the realm: The partition created artificial borders, particularly in Aquitaine, where cooperation was essential but lacking. This weakened central authority and encouraged rivalry. (Up to 3 marks).
Failure of cooperation: Carloman’s refusal to assist Charlemagne in suppressing the Aquitanian revolt in 769 undermined the credibility of joint kingship, leaving Charlemagne to demonstrate stronger leadership. (Up to 3 marks).
Other valid points may include: factional noble loyalties, contrasting personalities and ambitions, and papal involvement playing one brother against the other.
