Henry of Germany, called Henry the Fowler, king of Germay (919-936), the first of the Saxon line of German kings. In 912, succeeded his father as duke of Saxony. Following the death of Conrad I, king of Germany, in 918, Henry was chosen king by the Franconian and Saxon nobles. Bavaria, Swabia, and Lotharingie refused to acknowledge him at first, and it was not until 925 that he managed to win recognition from all the German states. In 926, Henry secured a nine-year truce from warfare with the Magyars. During that period he transformed many of the small towns of Germany into fortified cities with trained trrops of mounted warriors. His military preparation were successfully tested in a war against the Wends in 929. When the Magyars invaded Thuringis in 933, Henry repulsed them decisively. He defeated the Danes in the following year and seized territory from them. Henry was the first to create a unified Germany, and, although he never received the imperial crown, he is generally recognized as one of the Holy Roman Emperors. He was succeeded by his son Otto.
King of Germany (887-899) and Holy Roman Emperor (896-899). He was an illegitimate son of the East Frankish ruler Carloman, who was a great grandson of Charlemagne. In 887, Arnulph led the revolt that forced Charles III, king of France and Holy Roman Emperor, to abdicate and was elected king of the East Franks, that is, of Germany. In 891 he repulsed the Vikings, who were invading his kingdom. He campaigned in Italy in 894 and again in 895-896. In early 896, he captured Rome and was crowned Holy Roman emperor, the last Carolingian to be so invested.
King of Germany (887-899) and Holy Roman Emperor (896-899). He was an illegitimate son of the East Frankish ruler Carloman, who was a great grandson of Charlemagne. In 887, Arnulph led the revolt that forced Charles III, king of France and Holy Roman Emperor, to abdicate and was elected king of the East Franks, that is, of Germany. In 891 he repulsed the Vikings, who were invading his kingdom. He campaigned in Italy in 894 and again in 895-896. In early 896, he captured Rome and was crowned Holy Roman emperor, the last Carolingian to be so invested.
King of the Franks Pepin the Short
Became king of the Franks and continued the Carolingian dynasty. Like his father, grandfather, and great-great-grandfather, Pepin served as mayor of the palace in the Merovingian kingdom in France and Germany. In each case, the mayor was the power behind the throne. In 751, an assembly of the Franks deposed Childeric, the last of the weak Merovingian kings, and proclaimed Pepin king. Pope Stephen II gave his approval when he annointed Pepin and his sons in 754. When the Pope was threatened by the Lombards of northern Italy, Pepin led an army that defeated them (754-55). He ceded to the pope territory than included Ravenna and other cities. This grant, called the Donation of Pepin, laid the foundation for the Papal States. Pepin added Aquitane to his own kingdom, and began many important religious and educational reforms. His son Charlemagne, carried on these reforms.
Became king of the Franks and continued the Carolingian dynasty. Like his father, grandfather, and great-great-grandfather, Pepin served as mayor of the palace in the Merovingian kingdom in France and Germany. In each case, the mayor was the power behind the throne. In 751, an assembly of the Franks deposed Childeric, the last of the weak Merovingian kings, and proclaimed Pepin king. Pope Stephen II gave his approval when he annointed Pepin and his sons in 754. When the Pope was threatened by the Lombards of northern Italy, Pepin led an army that defeated them (754-55). He ceded to the pope territory than included Ravenna and other cities. This grant, called the Donation of Pepin, laid the foundation for the Papal States. Pepin added Aquitane to his own kingdom, and began many important religious and educational reforms. His son Charlemagne, carried on these reforms.
Mayor of the Palace Charles Martel
Illegitimate son of Pepin of Herstal, Carolingian mayor of the palace. When Pepin of Herstal died in 714 Charles was imprisoned by his father's widow, but he escaped in 715 and was proclaimed Mayor of the Palace by the Austrians. Ruled the Merovingian Franks from 719 to 741. He used the title of Mayor of the Palace, but he had the power of a king. In 732, Charles defeated the invading Moslems in a famous battle near Poiters in which the Muslim leader Abd-ar-Rahman, the emir of Spain,was killed. The progress of Islam, which had filled all Christians with alarm, was thus checked for a time. Charles drove the Muslims out of the Rhone Valley in 739 when they again advanced into France as far as Lyon, leaving them nothing of their possessions north of the Pyrenees beyond the Aude River.
For repeatedly attacking the Moslems, Charles later received the title of "Martel". meaning the Hammer. He built an army of mounted men by seizing church estates. He supported Saint Boniface in his conversion of pagans and his reform of the Frankish church.
Illegitimate son of Pepin of Herstal, Carolingian mayor of the palace. When Pepin of Herstal died in 714 Charles was imprisoned by his father's widow, but he escaped in 715 and was proclaimed Mayor of the Palace by the Austrians. Ruled the Merovingian Franks from 719 to 741. He used the title of Mayor of the Palace, but he had the power of a king. In 732, Charles defeated the invading Moslems in a famous battle near Poiters in which the Muslim leader Abd-ar-Rahman, the emir of Spain,was killed. The progress of Islam, which had filled all Christians with alarm, was thus checked for a time. Charles drove the Muslims out of the Rhone Valley in 739 when they again advanced into France as far as Lyon, leaving them nothing of their possessions north of the Pyrenees beyond the Aude River.
Prince of England Edward Atheling
When his father Edmund Ironside, King of England, died and the English people chose Cnut to be their king, Edmund's infant sons were sent abroad to the protection of King Stephen of Hungary. One of the twins died young; but the other, Edward Atheling, was brought up as a protege of Stephen's Queen, Gisela, and regarded in that foreign Court as the heir to the Anglo-Saxon throne. Edward married Agatha, and "God blessing that marriage gave them one son Edgar, and two daughters, Christian and Margaret who was to become Queen of Scotland and be canonized as St. Margaret following her death..