Carolingian were the second dynasty of Frankish kings who ruled parts of Western Europe from the 7th and 8th centuries. The family was descended from Pepin, a Carolingian mayor of Austrasia. Pepin had expended the Carolingian power and decided to overthrow the Merovingians, who were in control of the Frankish kingdom. With support from the pope, Pepin successfully overthrew the Merovingians and in 751 was crowned the king of the new Carolingian Empire.
Upon Pepin's death in 768, his son Charlemagne was crowned the new king of the Carolingians. Charlemagne was a fierce warrior but also a intelligent man who was a patron of learning. During his lengthy rule he greatly expanded the Carolingian Empire .
occupying parts France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and northern Italy. On December 25, 800, Charlemagne was crowned the first emperor of the revived Western Roman Empire. As emperor, Charlemagne established his court as a center of learning. Charlemagne achieved fame in many parts of the world for his promotion of education and the arts. With Charlemagne's death in 814, the disintegration of the Carolingian Empire was soon to follow. .
Charlemagne's son Louis the Pious ruled the Carolingian Empire from 814 to 840. Upon his death, the kingdom was divided among his four sons, who fought each other for the title of emperor. In 843, the three surviving brothers, Charles the Bald, Louis the German, and Lothair signed the Treaty of Verdun, which divided the empire into three parts. Charles the Bald controlled the West Frankish lands, which eventually became the kingdom of France. Louis the German controlled Eastern Frankish lands, which became Germany. Lothair received the title of emperor and controlled the Middle Kingdom, which was the remnants of the Carolingian Empire, extended from the North Sea to Italy, including Netherlands, Rhineland, and Northern Italy. .
This divide greatly hurt the Carolingian Empire, as the German and French Kingdoms would start a constant struggle over territories from the Carolingian Empire.
