Carolingians

Encyclopædia Orbis Latini

The second Frankish ruling dynasty. It was founded by Pepin the Short, who deposed the last Merovingian king in 751, and it was named after Pepin's son Charlemagne, who greatly expanded the Frankish territories. Crowned Emperor of the West in 800 by Pope Leo III, Charlemagne and his son Louis the Pious were great patrons of learning and art, fostering the Carolingian renaissance (see Alcuin; Einhard). Carolingian art consists of characteristic architecture (the Palatine Chapel in Aix-la-Chapelle [Aachen], built 792-805, survives), sculpture (only small works survive), metalwork, and illuminated manuscripts. After the death of Louis the Carolingian empire was split into three kingdoms (843). The middle Frankish kingdom was divided into Italy, Lotharingia (Lorraine), and Provence; in the eastern Frankish kingdom (Germany) the dynasty survived until 911; and the western Frankish kingdom (France) was ruled by Carolingians until the failure of the line in 987.