“Here was a program to wet the ambitions of warlords as well as scholars, and to send men into battle beneath the fluttering of banners, the hiss of arrows, and the shadow of carrion crows…” The year is 777 and Charles the Great - Charlemagne - has ruled as joint king of the Franks alongside his brother, Carloman, for nine years. Now though his brother and greatest impediment to sole authority has died under mysterious circumstances. The sole successor to the mighty Carolingian dynasty, then, Charlemagne behaves differently from all the Frankish warlords that have come before him. In the aftermath of the once great Roman Empire, he seems to have modelled himself on the image an Augustus, pushing the already formidable kingdom that he has inherited towards greater and greater dominion. In his sights now are the Saxons, long growing fractious in Germany, and also the terrifying Lombards. The campaigns that ensued would be more ruthless than any before, with Charlemagne himself personally leading his men into battle. But his regime is not only one founded upon the blade of a sword and militaristic might, it is also a religious and educational revolution. It would utterly transform the west forever, introducing widespread writing and learning, and Christianising vast swathes of Europe - poor and elite alike. But Charlemagne’s total dominion of the West was still incomplete. What would happen next? Join Tom and Dominic as they delve deeper into the rise of the mighty Charlemagne: his transition to sole ruler of the Franks, his violent militaristic conquests, and a Christian regime that would change the world. _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Producer: Theo Young-Smith Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett Editor: Aaliyah Akude Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor
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For weekly bonus episodes ad free listening, early access to series and membership of our much loved chat community, go to therestishistory.com and join the club that is therestishistory.com Charles the Prince girded boldly with gleaming arms, tamed this people through numerous blows and a thousand triumphs.
He crushed it down and subjected it to himself with brandished sword he dragged the battalions of those who in the depths of forests worshipped stock and stone into heavenly kingdoms.
Afterwards he poured over with the salvation bringing dew of baptism, the untaught Saxons and sent them to the stars of heaven and led the new children of Christ into his hall.
So that was a fellow called Paullinus.
He was a scholar from northern Italy.
Lovely poem.
I think it's a banger.
And Paullinus, not just a bishop, but a saint, Tom.
He becomes one in due course.
Not when he's written that poem, to be fair.
But it's all in the future.
Exactly.
You get your sainthood party as a reward for that.
Beautiful poem.
Yes.
Like the poet laureate.
So he writes this poem in the year 7 60, and we are in the realm of Charlemagne, Charles, the great warlord of the west, great king, great emperor, as we will discover as this story continues.
So, Tom, give us a little bit of context.
Charlemagne has been joint king of the Frankish Empire for nine years with his brother Carloman.