The Franks

As the Western Roman Empire collapsed the Frank tribes united under the Merovingians who themselves were descendants of the Salian tribe. 

 

The Merovingians conquered most of Gaul (modern day France) In the 6th Century, greatly increasing their power. In 751, the last Merovingian ruler was deposed and Pippin the Short ascended to power developing the Frankish state into the Carolingian Empire, controlling the majority of Western Europe. The Carolingian Empire also evolved into France and the Holy Roman Empire. 

 

Pippin the Short died in 768, rule was now equally split between his two sons Charlemagne (Charles the Great) and Carloman. Following the death of Carloman in 771, Charlemagne became sole ruler. 

 

From 772 Charlemagne waged a thirty-year war to extend his rule, conquering the Saxons, northern Italy, northern Spain, most of Germany, almost all of France, excluding Brittany and all of Austria, converting them to Christianity. 

 

On Christmas Day in 800, Pope Leo II crowned Charlemagne, Emperor of the Romans. 

 

Charlemagne supported the arts and education, creating a school at Aachen in Germany. He also created the Carolingian miniscule, a new standardised writing system, and undertook many economic and religious reforms. 

 

Charlemagne died on 28 January 814 in Aachen, Germany, and is buried there, the capital of his Frankish Empire. His only surviving son, Louis the Pious became ruler of a united Empire, however following his death in 840 there would be civil war for control between his three sons. 

 

In 843 the Treaty of Verdun was signed, dividing the Empire into three. 

 

 

This was the beginning of the end of the Frankish Empire and over time it became the individual European countries that we know today.