History of Europe

What was the situation in western europe when charlemagne took power?

The situation in Western Europe when Charlemagne took power was one of political and social fragmentation, with various Germanic tribes and kingdoms competing for control of territory. The Frankish kingdom, which Charlemagne inherited from his father Pepin the Short in 768, was one of the most powerful of these kingdoms, but it was still only one among many. Charlemagne's conquests and administrative reforms would ultimately unite much of Western Europe under his rule and lay the foundation for the Carolingian Empire.