Charlemagne: The Father of Europe - Summary

Summary

The video is a historical narrative about Charles the Great, also known as Charlemagne, who was a king of the Franks and is considered the father of modern Europe. The narrative begins by mentioning the video's graphics, which were made possible by Skillshare, a platform offering online courses on various topics. The video then proceeds to discuss Charles the Great's life and his significant contributions to Western civilization.

Charles the Great was born in 742 in modern-day Germany, and he ascended to the throne of his father, King Pepin of the Franks, in 768. He is celebrated for his military campaigns, his administrative reforms, and his promotion of learning and education. His reign, known as the Carolingian Renaissance, saw a rebirth of scholarship, literature, art, and architecture.

The video also discusses Charles the Great's military strategies and campaigns. He was known for his well-prepared, long-term campaigns that harassed and wore down his opponents over time. His military organization was aided by administrative reforms that he implemented during his reign. He divided his kingdom into an inner core and an outer regnum, each supervised directly by him or by trusted counts or earls.

Charles the Great's reign ended in 814, and he was succeeded by his son Louis the Pious. Despite his death, Charles the Great's legacy continues to influence Western civilization to this day. The video concludes by mentioning Skillshare again, encouraging viewers to join and support the platform.

Facts

1. The video is made by Skillshare, a platform helping people level up their skills since 2010.
2. The protagonist discussed is Charles, the great, also known as Charmaine, hailed as the father of modern Europe.
3. Charles was probably born in Arkin, modern-day Germany, in 742.
4. He was the eldest son of King Pepin of the Franks and had a brother named Carloman.
5. Charles was not a king himself, but he was a mayor of the palace to the kings of the Merovingian dynasty, which had ruled the region since the Year 450.
6. Charles ascended to the throne after the death of Heaven, and his reign was marked by military campaigns, crushing rebellions, securing borders, and expanding his dominions.
7. Charles led his armies on yearly campaigns, gradually developing a notion of Christian mission and a program of unifying and systematically expanding the Christian West.
8. Charles was known for his ruthless tactics, including the massacre of Verdun in 782, where he ordered the murder of 4,500 Saxon prisoners.
9. Charles was also known for his administrative reforms, which included the establishment of a single currency and writing system across his kingdom.
10. Charles's reign assured the Carolingian Renaissance, characterized by a rebirth of scholarship, literature, art, and architecture.
11. Charles was crowned the Holy Roman Emperor in 800 AD, although in practical terms, this did not change anything with respect to its territorial extent.
12. Charles had a close bond with his children, spending plenty of time with them and taking a personal interest in their education.
13. Charles did not allow his daughters to marry and instead taught them will spinning.
14. Charles had four mistresses with whom he sired five more children.
15. The video is promoting Skillshare, a platform offering over 30,000 courses on a variety of topics.
16. Skillshare offers a two-month free trial, and it's suggested to sign up through the provided link to support the show.
17. The show is promoting Skillshare as a platform where you can learn practical skills like productivity, programming, and presentation skills.