Charlemagne Study Guide - Important Facts

Charlemagne Study Guide - Important Facts BiographyTimelinePeople Birth and Family: Charlemagnes parents were Pippin III and Bertrada, who wed in 744.His traditional date of birth (742) makes him illegitimate. Most scholars agree he was born after his parents married, possibly as late as 747.Charlemagne married five times and had numerous concubines and children. He kept his family around him nearly always, sometimes bringing his sons with him on campaigns.Only one legitimate son, Louis, survived him to inherit the empire. Campaigns, Conquests Expansion: Charlemagnes methods could be extreme, but the end result was the largest territory to be governed under one ruler in Europe in the Middle Ages. (See map.) Avars: 791-796The Avars had once controlled a small empire near present-day Belgrade. Charlemagne virtually eliminated their society, the remains of which would succumb to the Bulgars in the 9th century.Bavaria: 788When Duke Tassilo reneged on his oath of fealty, the king removed him from power and put Bavaria under his jurisdiction. This brought the territory of all the Germanic tribes into one political unit.Lombardy: 771-774Answering the call for help of Pope Adrian I, who was pressured by the Lombard king to anoint Carlomans sons as Frankish kings, Charlemagne launched a campaign that included an extended siege of Pavia, Lombardys capital. Saxons: 772-804The war against the Saxons, though interrupted by truces, pledges of allegiance and mass baptisms, was particularly bloody and included the execution of 4,500 Saxon prisoners in one day. In all, Charles engaged the Saxons 18 times.Spain: 778Charlemagnes most serious defeat took place when he failed to take Saragossa, retreated across the Pyrenees, and was ambushed by Basques. The death of one of his lords would later be memorialized in the epic poem, The Song of Roland. Administration: Charles generally delegated authority as follows: Comtes (Counts) ruled regions within the stable territory of FranciaMargraves governed newly-acquired territories (marches), where military measures were necessary to maintain orderBoth comtes and margraves reported to Dukes, governors of the larger divisions of land who were Charlemagnes close relatives and most trusted friendsMissi dominici acted as his emissaries and inspectors general, traveling throughout the empire Cultural Impact: Charlemagnes patronage of learning would result in: A Carolingian Renaissance in which art and literature would flourishThe preservation of numerous Latin manuscripts that would otherwise have been lostThe establishment of a good number of monastic schoolsThe creation of Carolingian Miniscule, an alternative to the capital letters used in Latin text Charlemagnes Legacy: Although the empire Charles built did not long outlast his death, still his consolidation of territory was an important stage in the growth of Europe. In addition, many of the changes and developments made by Charles himself, or fostered due to his patronage, would endure long beyond the Carolingian Empire. The offices created or adapted by Charlemagne would persist for centuries in the variations of counts, dukes and marquises across Europe and Britain.Charlemagne reorganized the monetary system, devising the system of pounds, shillings and pence used throughout Europe in the middle ages and in Britain until the 1970s.The monastic schools Charlemagne developed would preserve a tradition of learning, which in turn made an important burst of medieval scholarship possible in what became known as the 12th-century Renaissance.90% of the works of ancient Rome now in existence are preserved in the form of eighth- and ninth-century manuscripts copied in Carolingian monasteries.The Carolingian miniscule script would eventually become the lower-case letters we use today.The Song of Roland, inspired by events that took place in Charlemagnes worst defeat, is the earliest known chanson de geste. It is part of a cycle of works that revolve around Charlemagne, about whom many legends sprang up. These legends, known as the matter of France, would influence French and European literature through the centuries to today. Charles had a palace and a cathedral built in his favorite town, Aachen (or Aix-la-Chapelle), where he also died and was buried. Aachen became the location of the coronation of every emperor until the 16th century.The Carolingian Empire would inspire a tenth-century ruler, Otto the Great, to consolidate his territory in what came to be known as the Holy Roman Empire. Covering much of what Charles had controlled during his lifetime, the Holy Roman Empire was one of the most significant political entities of the Middle Ages. Charlemagne Study Guide BiographyTimelinePeople

Nathan Bedford Forrest in the Civil War

Nathan Bedford Forrest in the Civil War Nathan Bedford Forrest - Early Life: Born July 13, 1821 in Chapel Hill, TN, Nathan Bedford Forrest was the eldest child (of twelve) of William and Miriam Forrest. A blacksmith, William died of scarlet fever when his son was only seventeen.   The illness also claimed Forrests twin sister, Fanny. Needing to make money to support his mother and siblings, Forrest went into business with his uncle, Jonathan Forrest, in 1841. Operating in Hernando, MS, this enterprise proved short-lived as Jonathan was killed in a dispute four years later. Though somewhat lacking in formal education, Forrest proved a skilled businessman and by the 1850s had worked as a steamboat captain and slave trader before buying multiple cotton plantations in western Tennessee. Nathan Bedford Forrest - Joining the Military: Having amassed a large fortune, Forrest was elected an alderman in Memphis in 1858 and provided financial support for his mother as well as paid for his brothers college educations.   One of the richest men in the South when the Civil War began in April 1861, he enlisted as a private in the Confederate Army and he was assigned to Company E of the Tennessee Mounted Rifles in July 1861 along with his youngest brother. Shocked by the units lack of equipment, he volunteered to buy horses and gear for an entire regiment out of his personal funds. Responding to this offer, Governor Isham G. Harris, who was surprised that someone of Forrests means had enlisted as a private, directed him to raise a battalion of mounted troops and assume the rank of lieutenant colonel. Nathan Bedford Forrest - Rising Through the Ranks: Though lacking any formal military training, Forrest proved a gifted trainer and leader of men. This battalion soon grew into a regiment that fall. In February, Forrests command operated in support of Brigadier General John B. Floyds garrison at Fort Donelson, TN. Driven back to the fort by Union forces under Major General Ulysses S. Grant, Forrest and his men took part in the Battle of Fort Donelson. With the forts defenses near collapse, Forrest led the bulk of his command and other troops in a successful escape attempt which saw them wade through the Cumberland River to avoid the Union lines. Now a colonel, Forrest raced to Nashville where he aided in evacuating industrial equipment before the city fell to Union forces. Returning to action in April, Forrest operated with Generals Albert Sidney Johnston and P.G.T. Beauregard during the Battle of Shiloh. In the wake of the Confederate defeat, Forrest provided a rear guard during the armys retreat and was wounded at Fallen Timbers on April 8. Recovering, he received command a newly-recruited cavalry brigade. Working to train his men, Forrest raided into central Tennessee in July and defeated a Union force Murfreesboro. On July 21, Forrest was promoted to brigadier general. Having fully trained his men, he was angered in December when the Army of Tennessees commander, General Braxton Bragg, reassigned him to another brigade of raw troops. Though his men were ill-equipped and green, Forrest was ordered to conduct a raid into Tennessee by Bragg. Though believing the mission to be ill-advised under the circumstances, Forrest conducted a brilliant campaign of maneuver which disrupted Union operations in the area, secured captured weapons for his men, and delayed Grants Vicksburg Campaign. Nathan Bedford Forrest - Nearly Unbeatable: After spending the early part of 1863 conducting smaller operations, Forrest was ordered into northern Alabama and Georgia to intercept a larger Union mounted force led by Colonel Abel Streight. Locating the enemy, Forrest attacked Streight at Days Gap, AL on April 30. Though held, Forrest pursued the Union troops for several days until forcing their surrender near Cedar Bluff on May 3. Rejoining Braggs Army of Tennessee, Forrest took part in the Confederate victory at the Battle of Chickamauga in September. In the hours after the victory, he unsuccessfully appealed for Bragg to follow up with a march on Chattanooga. Though he verbally assaulted Bragg after the commanders refusal to pursue Major General William Rosecrans beaten army, Forrest was ordered to assume an independent command in Mississippi and received a promotion to major general on December 4. Raiding north in the spring of 1864, Forrests command attacked Fort Pillow in Tennessee on April 12. Largely garrisoned by African-American troops, the assault degenerated into a massacre with Confederate forces cutting down the black soldiers despite efforts to surrender. Forrests role in the massacre and whether it was premeditated remains a source of controversy. Returning to action, Forrest won his greatest victory on June 10 when he defeated Brigadier General Samuel Sturgis at the Battle of Brices Crossroads. Despite being severely outnumbered, Forrest utilized a superb mix of maneuver, aggression, and terrain to maul Sturgis command and capture around 1,500 prisoners and a large quantity of arms in the process. The triumph threatened Union supply lines which were supporting Major General William T. Shermans advance against Atlanta. As a result, Sherman dispatched a force under Major General A.J. Smith to deal with Forrest. Pushing into Mississippi, Smith succeeded in defeating Forrest and Lieutenant General Stephen Lee at the Battle of Tupelo in mid-July. Despite the defeat, Forrest continued to mount devastating raids into Tennessee including attacks on Memphis in August and Johnsonville in October. Again ordered to join the Army of Tennessee, now led by General John Bell Hood, Forrests command provided cavalry forces for the advance against Nashville. On November 30, he violently clashed with Hood after being refused permission to cross the Harpeth River and cut off the Union line of retreat before the Battle of Franklin. Nathan Bedford Forrest - Final Actions: As Hood shattered his army in frontal assaults against the Union position, Forrest did push across the river in an attempt to turn the Union left, but was beaten by Union cavalry led by Major General James H. Wilson. As Hood advanced towards Nashville, Forrests men were detached to raid the Murfreesboro area. Rejoining, on December 18, Forrest ably covered the Confederate retreat after Hood was crushed at the Battle of Nashville. For his performance, he was promoted to lieutenant general on February 28, 1865. With Hoods defeat, Forrest was effectively left to defend northern Mississippi and Alabama. Though badly outnumbered, he opposed Wilsons raid into the region in March. In the course of the campaign, Forrest was badly beaten at Selma on April 2. With Union forces overrunning the area, Forrests department commander, Lieutenant General Richard Taylor, elected to surrender on May 8. Surrendering at Gainesville, AL, Forrest gave a farewell address to his men the following day. Nathan Bedford Forrest - Later Life: Returning to Memphis after the war, Forrest sought to rebuild his ruined fortune. Selling his plantations in 1867, he also became an early leader of the Ku Klux Clan. Believing the organization to be a patriotic group dedicated to repressing African-Americans and opposing Reconstruction, he aided in its activities. As KKKs activities became increasingly violent and uncontrolled, he ordered the group to disband and departed in 1869. In the postwar years, Forrest found employment with the Selma, Marion, and Memphis Railroad and ultimately became the companys president. Hurt by the Panic of 1873, Forrest spent his last years running a prison work farm on Presidents Island near Memphis. Forrest died on October 29, 1877, most likely from diabetes. Initially buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis, his remains were moved in 1904 to a Memphis park named in his honor. Highly respected by opponents such as Grant and Sherman, Forrest was known for his use of maneuver warfare and is often erroneously quoted as stating his philosophy was to git thar fustest with the mostest. In the years after the war, key Confederate leaders such Jefferson Davis and General Robert E. Lee both expressed regret that Forrests skills had not been used to greater advantage. Selected Sources NNDB: Nathan Bedford ForrestCivil War: Nathan Bedford Forrest Nathan Bedford Forrest Biography