The reforms in administration started in about 779 AD in reaction to the tension cause by political environment and wars. Thus, he was able to bring unity among the people, implement a unified political system, and strengthen his kingdom (Einhard and Nokter 122-126). Through the reforms, Charles I brought his people together having made them share common beliefs. The reform of the church and state made it possible for him to establish an imperial system in 802 AD. During his time in power, the church and state reformed further as Charlemagne was determined to establish a strong empire. Nokter tells more of the king’s religious side.

Church and stateĬharlemagne was interested in spreading Christianity in his Kingdom and to the people from the states he conquered. Thus, the military action led to church and state becoming intertwined, as explained in the next paragraph.

Einhard says the emperor’s military skills helped him rule and command respect. The conquest of the regions he waged war upon led to the increase in the size of his Frankish kingdom that extended across Europe. He was a determined king and did not give up even going to the war in person, for example, in some battles against the Huns. Later, he entered the Saxon War that lasted for a long time and took much persistence to win because the Saxons did not give up easily and regrouped after their defeat to fight another day. However, it was not easy to fight because the terrain was difficult to fight a war, but he pressed on and won. He later went to Italy to fight the Lombard War. He conquered the war and Hunold, the aquitanian leader, surrendered together with his province to Charles I. The war had begun during the rule of his father, so when Charlemagne took the throne, he decided to bring it to a conclusion. The first military action he undertook was the Aquitanian War. He was a good military strategist and led his kingdom in various wars. Besides, he wanted to increase his kingdom and spread Christianity far and wide.

He conducted several military campaigns for a number of reasons, such as protection of his kingdom against internal and external forces that sought to bring about separatism. Militarized stateįirstly, Charlemagne’s rule was militaristic during the Middle Ages. The paper will look at the following issues: Charlemagne’s life militarized state, church and society and reforms in administration. The two writers provided different views on Charlemagne’s life as they knew him from different sides. On the other hand, Nokter, a musician and a monastic scholar, wrote his account of Charles the Great’s life fifty years after his passing.

The two lives of charlemagne