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THE DARK AGES 476-918
THE DARK AGES 476-918
In spite of the very modest scale on which this book has been written, I trust that it may be of some use to students of European History. Though there are several excellent monographs in existence dealing with various sections of the period 476-918, there is no continuous general sketch in English which covers the whole of it. Gibbon’s immortal work is popularly supposed to do so, but those who have read it most carefully are best aware that it does not. I am not acquainted with any modern Engl
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PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION
PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION
The author has to acknowledge much kind help in the revision of this second edition given him by the Rev. Dr. Bright, Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History; by Mr. C. H. Turner, Fellow of Magdalen College; by the Rev. F. E. Brightman, of University College; and by the unwearied compiler of the index. They have materially improved the accuracy of the book by their suggestions. October 30, 1894....
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CHAPTER I ODOACER AND THEODORIC 476-493
CHAPTER I ODOACER AND THEODORIC 476-493
Importance of the year 476—The Emperor Zeno recognises Odoacer as Patrician in Italy—Odoacer’s position—Divisions of Europe in 476—The Vandals in Africa and King Gaiseric—Rule of Odoacer in Italy—His war with Theodoric, and fall. In the summer of 477 A.D. a band of ambassadors, who claimed to speak the will of the decayed body which still called itself the Roman senate, appeared before the judgment-seat of the emperor Zeno, the ruler of Constantinople and the Eastern Empire. They came to announc
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CHAPTER II THEODORIC KING OF ITALY 493-526
CHAPTER II THEODORIC KING OF ITALY 493-526
The Ostrogothic race—Character of Theodoric—His Administration of Italy—Theodoric in Rome—Foreign Policy of Theodoric—His wars with the Franks and Burgundians—His supremacy in Western Europe—Misfortunes of his later years—Death of Boethius—Failure of Theodoric’s great schemes. From the formal and constitutional point of view the substitution of king Theodoric for king Odoacer, as ruler in Italy, made no change in the position of affairs. From the practical point of view the change was important,
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CHAPTER III THE EMPERORS AT CONSTANTINOPLE 476-527
CHAPTER III THE EMPERORS AT CONSTANTINOPLE 476-527
Contrast between the fates of the Eastern and Western Empires—The East recovers its strength—Leo I. and the Isaurians—The Emperor Zeno and the rebellion against him—Wars of Zeno with the two Theodorics, 478-483—The ‘Henoticon’—Character of the Emperor Anastasius—Rebellion of the Isaurians—War with Persia, 503-5—The ‘Blue and Green’ Factions—Rebellion of Vitalian—Accession of Justin I. At Rome the emperors of the third quarter of the fifth century—all the ephemeral Caesars whose blood-stained ann
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CHAPTER IV CHLODOVECH AND THE FRANKS IN GAUL 481-511
CHAPTER IV CHLODOVECH AND THE FRANKS IN GAUL 481-511
The Franks in Northern Gaul—Their early conquests—State of Gaul in 481—Chlodovech conquers Northern Gaul, 486—He subdues the Alamanni, 495-6—Conversion of Chlodovech, 496—He conquers Aquitaine from the Visigoths, 507—He unites all the Frankish Kingdoms, 511. While Odoacer was still reigning in Italy, and Theodoric the Amal had not yet left the Balkans, or the banks of the Danube, the foundations of a great kingdom were being laid upon the Scheldt and the Meuse. Early in the fifth century the con
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CHAPTER V JUSTINIAN AND HIS WARS A.D. 528-540
CHAPTER V JUSTINIAN AND HIS WARS A.D. 528-540
Character of Justinian—His marriage with Theodora—His first War with Persia, 528-31—Rise of Belisarius—Justinian suppresses the ‘Nika’ sedition, 532—His foreign policy—Belisarius conquers the Vandals, 533-4—Decay of the Ostrogoths in Italy—Justinian attacks Theodahat—Belisarius conquers Sicily, Naples, and Rome—Siege of Rome by the Ostrogoths (537-8)—Belisarius defeats the Ostrogoths and captures Ravenna (540). For three quarters of a century, during the reigns of the four cautious and elderly C
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CHAPTER VI JUSTINIAN—(continued) 540-565 A.D.
CHAPTER VI JUSTINIAN—(continued) 540-565 A.D.
Justinian as builder—His ruinous financial policy—His second Persian war—Chosroes takes Antioch, 540—Campaigns of Belisarius and Chosroes—The Great Plague of 542—Peace with Persia—Baduila restores the Ostrogothic kingdom in Italy—His campaign against Belisarius—Two sieges of Rome—Success and greatness of Baduila—Narses invades Italy—Baduila slain at Taginae, 552—End of the Ostrogothic kingdom—Narses defeats the Franks—Justinian attacks Southern Spain—Third Persian War, 549-55—Justinian as Theolo
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CHAPTER VII THE EARLIER FRANKISH KINGS AND THEIR ORGANISATION OF GAUL 511-561.
CHAPTER VII THE EARLIER FRANKISH KINGS AND THEIR ORGANISATION OF GAUL 511-561.
The Sons of Chlodovech—Theuderich conquers Thuringia, 531—Childebert and Chlothar conquer Burgundy, 532—Their war with the Visigoths—Theudebert invades Italy—Chlothar reunites the Frankish kingdoms, 558—Organisation of the Frankish realm—The great officials—Mayors of the Palace—Counts and Dukes—Local government, the Mallus—Legal and financial arrangement. Chlodovech left four sons: one, Theuderich, borne to him by a Frankish wife in early youth; three, Chlodomer, Childebert, and Chlothar, the of
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CHAPTER VIII THE VISIGOTHS IN SPAIN 531-603
CHAPTER VIII THE VISIGOTHS IN SPAIN 531-603
Weakness of the Visigothic kingdom—Civil wars and murders of Kings—The Romans invade Andalusia, 554—Reign of Leovigild—He restores the power of the Visigoths—His conquests—Rebellion and death of his son Hermenegild—Reign of Reccared—He converts the Goths to Catholicism—Consequences of this conversion. We have already, while dealing with the fortunes of Chlodovech the Frank and Theodoric the Great, related the story of the expulsion of the Visigoths from Aquitaine, and of the extinction of their
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CHAPTER IX THE SUCCESSORS OF JUSTINIAN 565-610
CHAPTER IX THE SUCCESSORS OF JUSTINIAN 565-610
Justin II. and his unhappy financial policy—His troubles with the Persians and Avars—Reign of Tiberius Constantinus—Accession of Maurice—His victory over Persia—His failure against the Slavs and Avars—Disasters in the Balkan Peninsula—Fall of Maurice—Tyranny of Phocas—His unfortunate war with Persia—He is dethroned and slain by Heraclius, 610. The forty years which followed the death of Justinian were a period of rapid decline and decay for the East-Roman world. The empire was paying, by exhaust
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CHAPTER X DECLINE AND DECAY OF THE MEROVINGIANS 561-656.
CHAPTER X DECLINE AND DECAY OF THE MEROVINGIANS 561-656.
The sons of Chlothar divide the Frankish realm—Wars of Sigibert and Chilperich—The fortunes of Brunhildis—Continued wars of Neustria and Austrasia—Tyranny of Chilperich and Fredegundis—Decay of the Royal Power among the Franks—The House of St. Arnulf and Pippin—Brunhildis regent in Austrasia—Wars of her grandsons—Her death—Chlothar II. sole king—His weakness—His successor Dagobert I. last free king of the Merovingian line—Rise of the Mayors of the Palace. After the first eighty years of its exis
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CHAPTER XI THE LOMBARDS IN ITALY, AND THE RISE OF THE PAPACY 568-653
CHAPTER XI THE LOMBARDS IN ITALY, AND THE RISE OF THE PAPACY 568-653
The Wanderings of the Lombards—Alboin conquers Northern Italy—His tragic end—Anarchy among the Lombard dukes—Reign of Authari, and Frankish wars—Conquest and conversion of Agilulf—Rothari the Law-giver—State of Rome and Italy—Career of St. Gregory—He founds the temporal power of the Papacy. In the third year of Justin II. , and only fifteen years after Narses had swept the Goth and Frank out of Italy, a new horde of barbarians came pouring down on that unhappy land. The ravages of eighteen years
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CHAPTER XII HERACLIUS AND MOHAMMED 610-641
CHAPTER XII HERACLIUS AND MOHAMMED 610-641
Distress of the Empire in the early years of Heraclius—The letter of Chosroes—Treachery of the Avars—Heraclius preaches a Crusade—His six victorious Campaigns—Great Siege of Constantinople—Persia vanquished—Triumph of Heraclius—Rise and Character of Mohammed—The Creed of Islam—Conquests of the Caliphs in Syria and Persia—Troubled old age of Heraclius. When the tyrant Phocas had been handed over to the executioner to pay the penalty for his innumerable misdeeds, the Senate and army joined in offe
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CHAPTER XIII THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE VISIGOTHS A.D. 603-711
CHAPTER XIII THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE VISIGOTHS A.D. 603-711
Obscurity of Visigothic History—Sisibut and Swinthila expel the East-Romans—A series of priest-ridden Kings—Chindaswinth restores the royal power—His legislation—Recceswinth’s long reign—Wamba and his wars—The rebellion of Paulus—Wamba’s weak and obscure successors—Approach of the Saracens—Weakness of Spain—Roderic the Last of the Goths—All Spain subdued by the Saracens. Few periods of European history are so obscure as the last hundred years of the Visigothic dominion in Spain. The original sou
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CHAPTER XIV THE CONTEST OF THE EASTERN EMPIRE AND THE CALIPHATE 641-717
CHAPTER XIV THE CONTEST OF THE EASTERN EMPIRE AND THE CALIPHATE 641-717
Dynastic troubles after the death of Heraclius—Wars of Constantinus (Constans II. ) with the Caliphate—His publication of the ‘Type’—His invasion of Italy and war with the Lombards—Reign of Constantine V. —His successful defence of Constantinople—Tyranny of Justinian II. —His deposition—Usurpations of Leontius and Tiberius—Justinian restored—Anarchy follows his murder—Rise of Leo the Isaurian. At the moment of the death of the unfortunate Heraclius the East-Roman Empire was left in a most disadv
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CHAPTER XV THE HISTORY OF THE GREAT MAYORS OF THE PALACE 656-720
CHAPTER XV THE HISTORY OF THE GREAT MAYORS OF THE PALACE 656-720
The Mayor Grimoald unsuccessfully endeavours to make his son king of Austrasia—Decadence of the house of the Merovings—Ebroin and his tyrannical rule in Neustria—Long civil wars—Rise of Pippin the younger and his victory at Testry—The ascendency of Pippin: his successes in consolidating the kingdom—Missionary enterprises in Germany—Civil wars at the death of Pippin—Final triumph of his son Charles Martel. In 656 died King Sigibert III. , the first Meroving king of Austrasia who had been but a pu
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CHAPTER XVI THE LOMBARDS AND THE PAPACY 653-743
CHAPTER XVI THE LOMBARDS AND THE PAPACY 653-743
Usurpation and successful wars of Grimoald—Reigns of Berthari and Cunibert—Quarrels of the Papacy and the empire—The exile of Pope Martin I. —Gradual alienation of Italy from the empire—Civil wars of Aribert II. and Ansprand—Successful reign of Liutprand—Leo the Isaurian and Gregory II. —Italy rebels against the Iconoclasts—Liutprand conquers most of the Exarchate. After the death of Rothari the law-giver the Lombard kingdom entered into its second stage: it had now almost reached the full growt
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CHAPTER XVII CHARLES MARTEL AND HIS WARS 720-41
CHAPTER XVII CHARLES MARTEL AND HIS WARS 720-41
Wars with the Saxons and Frisians—Missionary enterprises of St. Boniface—The Saracens in Septimania and Aquitaine—Charles wins the battle of Poictiers—Revolt and subjection of duke Hunold of Aquitaine—Charles and the Papacy. The name of Charles Martel is generally remembered as that of the victor of Poictiers, but although the defeat of the invasion of the Saracens of Spain was destined to be the greatest of his achievements, his struggle with them was but one of a long series of wars waged agai
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CHAPTER XVIII THE ICONOCLAST EMPERORS—STATE OF THE EASTERN EMPIRE IN THE EIGHTH CENTURY 717-802
CHAPTER XVIII THE ICONOCLAST EMPERORS—STATE OF THE EASTERN EMPIRE IN THE EIGHTH CENTURY 717-802
Leo and the defence of Constantinople, 718—Importance of his triumph—Social and economical condition of the Empire—Decay of Art and Letters—Superstition and Iconoduly—The Iconoclast movement—Leo’s Crusade against Images—Constantine Copronymus and his persecutions—Successful wars of Constantine V. —Minority of Constantine VI. —Intrigues and triumph of Irene—Restoration of Image-worship—End of the Isaurian dynasty, 802. In March 717 Leo the Isaurian became master of Constantinople, his predecessor
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CHAPTER XIX PIPPIN THE SHORT—WARS OF THE FRANKS AND LOMBARDS 741-768
CHAPTER XIX PIPPIN THE SHORT—WARS OF THE FRANKS AND LOMBARDS 741-768
Mayoralty of Pippin and Carloman—Their successful wars—Boniface reforms the Frankish church—Abdication of Carloman—Pippin dethrones Childebert III. and assumes the royal title—Quarrel of Aistulf and Pope Stephen—The Pope calls the Franks into Italy—Pippin twice subdues Aistulf—The Exarchate given to the Papacy—Martyrdom of St. Boniface—Conquest of Narbonne—Long struggle with the dukes of Aquitaine—Death of Pippin. The events which immediately followed the death of Charles Martel showed clearly e
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CHAPTER XX CHARLES THE GREAT—EARLY YEARS 768-785—CONQUEST OF LOMBARDY AND SAXONY.
CHAPTER XX CHARLES THE GREAT—EARLY YEARS 768-785—CONQUEST OF LOMBARDY AND SAXONY.
Charles and Carloman—Final conquest of Aquitaine—Death of Carloman—Character and habits of Charles—State of the Frankish Empire—Charles interferes in Italy on behalf of the Pope—He subdues the Lombard monarchy—His later expeditions into Italy—First conquest of Saxony—Expedition to Spain—Rebellions of Saxony followed by its reconquest and permanent subjection. The moment that king Pippin had been laid beneath his marble slab near the high altar of St. Denis, his two sons drew apart, and after ret
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CHAPTER XXI THE LATER WARS AND CONQUESTS OF CHARLES THE GREAT 785-814
CHAPTER XXI THE LATER WARS AND CONQUESTS OF CHARLES THE GREAT 785-814
Wide scope of the later conquests of Charles—Outlying provinces governed by his sons—Conquest of the Baltic Slavs—Subjection of Bohemia—Wars with the Avars and their final subjection—Hostilities with the Eastern Empire—Conquest of the Spanish March—Later revolts of the Saxons—Wars with the Danes. King Charles had now come to the end of the first of the stages of his conquests, and the nearer enemies of the Frankish kingdom had been reduced to subjection. With comparatively little trouble the fer
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CHAPTER XXII CHARLES THE GREAT AND THE EMPIRE
CHAPTER XXII CHARLES THE GREAT AND THE EMPIRE
Survival of the Theory of the Empire in Western Europe, and especially in Italy—Its influence—Troubles of Pope Leo III. —He crowns Charles on Christmas Day 800—Consequences, immediate and remote, of the coronation—The Papacy and the Empire—Charles as administrator and legislator—His encouragement of Literature, Architecture, and Science—His later years and death. While narrating the never-ending wars of the great king of the Franks, we have barely found time to mention the internal changes which
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CHAPTER XXIII LEWIS THE PIOUS 814-840
CHAPTER XXIII LEWIS THE PIOUS 814-840
Character of Lewis the Pious—He reforms the Frankish court—His ecclesiastical legislation—After a narrow escape from death he divides his kingdom among his sons—The partition of Aachen—Rebellion and death of Bernard of Italy—The second marriage of Lewis and its consequences—Second partition of the empire followed by rebellion of Lewis’ elder sons—Their repeated risings—The ‘Lügenfeld’—Lewis twice deposed and restored—Continued troubles of his later years—He dies while leading an army against his
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CHAPTER XXIV DISRUPTION OF THE FRANKISH EMPIRE—THE COMING OF THE VIKINGS 840-855
CHAPTER XXIV DISRUPTION OF THE FRANKISH EMPIRE—THE COMING OF THE VIKINGS 840-855
Wars of the sons of Lewis the Pious—Battle of Fontenay and Peace of Verdun—The Vikings and their ships and methods of warfare—All Western Europe subject to their incursions—Their invasion of Neustria and Austrasia—Intermittent civil wars of the Franks—Charles the Bald and his policy—Death of Lothair. At the moment of his death Lewis the Pious had been at enmity with his son Lewis of Bavaria and his grandson Pippin the young of Aquitaine, while he had by his last partition-statute provided for th
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CHAPTER XXV THE DARKEST HOUR—A.D. 855-887
CHAPTER XXV THE DARKEST HOUR—A.D. 855-887
Civil Wars following the death of Lothair I. —King Lewis and his rule in Germany—Troubles of Lothair II. —The Vikings in Neustria—The Edict of Pistres—Charles the Bald invades Austrasia—Treaty of Mersen—Charles made Emperor—Death of Lewis the German—War of his sons with Charles the Bald—Charles’s successors in Neustria—Disastrous reign of Charles the Fat—He unites Germany, France, and Italy—The siege of Paris—Charles the Fat dethroned. Evil as had been the years which followed the fight of Fonte
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CHAPTER XXVI ITALY AND SICILY IN THE NINTH CENTURY (827-924)
CHAPTER XXVI ITALY AND SICILY IN THE NINTH CENTURY (827-924)
Invasion of Sicily by the Moors: the Western half of the island conquered—Civil wars in Southern Italy—The Moors invade Italy—Pope Leo’s victory at Ostia—Quarrels of the Eastern and Western Churches—The False Decretals—Campaigns of the Emperor Lewis II. against the Moors—Anarchy in Italy after his death—The Byzantines reconquer Southern Italy—The Moors in Campania—Civil wars of Wido and Berengar—King Arnulf’s invasion of Italy—Long period of anarchy after his departure. On the fortunes of the ki
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CHAPTER XXVII GERMANY 888-918
CHAPTER XXVII GERMANY 888-918
Arnulf, king of Germany—His victory at Louvain over the Danes—His expedition to Italy—His troubles with his son Zwentibold—Approach of the Magyars—Reign of Lewis the Child—Internal anarchy, and disasters from Magyar invasions—Reign of Conrad of Franconia—His troubles and death. Arnulf of Carinthia was base-born, the son of the Slavonic mistress of king Carloman, but he possessed a considerable share of the strength and vigour of his ancestors. For the twelve years of his reign the German realm m
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CHAPTER XXVIII THE EASTERN EMPIRE IN THE NINTH CENTURY 802-912
CHAPTER XXVIII THE EASTERN EMPIRE IN THE NINTH CENTURY 802-912
Nicephorus I. and his wars—He is slain by the Bulgarians—Short reign of Michael I. —Leo V. defeats the Bulgarians—His ecclesiastical troubles—Michael the Amorian dethrones him and reigns nine years—His policy—Reign of Theophilus—His wars with the Caliphs—He persecutes image-worshippers—Long minority of Michael III. —Restoration of image-worship—Orgies and end of Michael—Basil I. and the Macedonian dynasty. The East-Roman Empire was always at its best when it was subject for several generations t
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CHAPTER XXIX THE END OF THE NINTH CENTURY IN WESTERN EUROPE. CONCLUSION
CHAPTER XXIX THE END OF THE NINTH CENTURY IN WESTERN EUROPE. CONCLUSION
Reign of Odo in France—His Danish wars—His civil war with Charles the Simple—Charles succeeds to the throne—He grants Normandy to Hrolf—Lotharingia annexed to France—Robert and Rudolf rebel against Charles the Simple—Murder of Charles at Peronne—Spain and the Moors—Growth of the kingdom of the Asturias under Pelagius and the three Alfonsos—Its continued progress—Summary of the period—Feudalism, its military and political meaning—Conclusion. We left the much-vexed Neustrian realm handed over to a
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