Germanic Tribes

Goths Gothiscanza – South Scandanavia First Germanic people to become Christian Came across Baltic Sea from Sweden Fought with Romans in the Balkans In 370, divided into two separate groups

Ostrogoths Eastern Goths Theodorik – Rise of power until 526 Defeated by Belasarius & Narses (Totila) Teia made last ditch effort (Head on a pole)

Visigoths Sought protection of Romans when Huns invaded Europe Eventually renounced allegiance to Rome Established kingdom in what is now France, Spain, and Portugal

Visigoths cont. Alaric –Expanded Empire –Sacked Rome (410) Move to Spain till 711 –Destroyed by Moors

Rome falls to the Visigoths

Lombards Originally settled along the Elbe River (Ger.) Conquered northern and central Italy –6 th Century Gradually converted to Christianity –Adopted Latin Language

Lombards cont. Langobards Helped Justinian against Ostrogoths Alboin murdered 572 by Gepid princess Rosamund Ruled by Duces (35) Northern Italy (Lombardy) –Franks destroy them

Alamanni Inhabited what is now Germany Confederacy of Germanic tribes

Alamanni cont. All men No strong central authority Several rulers at once SW Germany Charles Martel absorbed into empire Allemagne – French word for Germany

Gepids Gepania – Sluggish or slow (lazy) freshman Driven out by Ostrogoths and Avars Never created their own state

Burgundians Invaded and established kingdom in SE France and part of Switzerland

Vandals Ancient Germanic tribe of Jutland (Denmark) Entered Gaul (France) and Spain in 5 th Cent Fought against Romans and Visigoths Moved to North Africa, attacked Italy Known for their terrifying raids; why one who plunders or destroys is called a vandal

Vandals cont Plunder rather than rule Destroy Carthage Defeated by Justinian Gelimer – All is vanity "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity" -Gelimer, last king of the Vandals

Huns Nomads from Asia who invaded territories of the Germanic tribes Forced Germanic tribes to migrate westward and into Roman Empire Led by Attila (known as scourge of God)

Franks 250- Courageous or Bold

Frankish Empire Frankish also to mean free or fierce Merovingians – Merovech (started empire) Handed down to Childeric (481) –Father of Clovis ( )

Clovis Greatly expanded empire Defeated Alamannis, Burgundians, Drove Visigoths to Spain Officially converted empire to Christianity (Pope recognized)

Clovis cont. Soon became figurehead, not ruler Around 700 AD, lose power to Carolingians (Landowners under Merovingians) Pepin of Heristal – Mayor of the Palace

Charles Martel The Hammer 732 AD Battle of Tours –Defeat Muslim forces, unify clan (Oct ) –Horsemen (Muslim) vs. Foot Soldiers (Franks) –Terrain Costly

Pepin the Short Took over with brother Carloman (became monk) Half brother Grifo imprisoned Defeated the Lombards –Donation of Pepin to Pope = Land of Lombards

Charlemagne Charles the Great Built up judicial system Revived the arts (schools) –Renaissance Empire with vast military expeditions –33 of 46 Campaign –Song of Roland (30 yrs of campaigns)

Charlemagne cont. Spread Christianity –Crowned Charles Augustus – Emperor of Romans 1 st Holy Roman Emperor in 800 AD on Christmas Day (Leo III)

Eldest Son – Pippin the Hunchback Louis the Pious steps in! (What a Jerk)

Louis the Pious Decided to split dynasty into 3 among sons for control (excuses primogeniture) Treaty of Verdun (843) –Divided land Strasbourg Oath

Lothar Lower Provinces, Italy Central Lotharingia (Lorraine, Alsace, Burgandy)

Louis the German Got Germany Holy Roman Empire ( Thanks a bunch, jerks)

Charles the Bald Western portion What is now France Joined forces with Louis the German