The Visigoths were a Germanic tribe that originally came from Scandinavia and worked as mercenaries for the Roman Empire. After sacking Rome in 410, they were given the province of Gaul by the Roman emperor. They established their capital in Toulouse and eventually conquered most of Hispania as well. In 507, the Franks defeated the Visigoths, forcing them to retreat to Hispania where they established their kingdom in Toledo. This Visigothic Kingdom was eventually destroyed by the Umayyad conquest of Hispania in 711.

1. (5th – 10th centuries)
Early Middle Ages
(Part 2)

2. The Visigoths

4. Extra information:
• The Visigoths were a Germanic tribe that came from
Scandinavia.
• They attacked the Roman Empire but they also
worked for the Roman Empire as mercenaries.
• Thanks to this military help they received in
exchange money and territories.
• They settled in nowadays Bulgaria, later Romania and
finally in Gaul (nowadays France) and Hispania.
• They were the first Germanic tribe that attacked
the city of Rome in 410.

5. The sack of Rome

6. 15) Explain how the Visigoths created a kingdom in Gaul
• After the sack of Rome in 410 the emperor of Rome
made a pact with the Visigoths. The Visigoths had to
expel the Suevi, the Vandals and the Alans from
Hispania.
• In exchange they will receive the province of Gaul (in
nowadays France).
• The capital city was established in Tolouse.
• Within time they also crossed the Pyrenees and
conquered almost all Hispania. (Or this kingdom
occupied part of Gaul and part of Hispania)

8. 16) Explain how the Visigoth kingdom of Toledo was
created.
• In 711 the Visigoths were expelled by the Arabs in the
battle of Guadalete.
• This will be the end of the Visigoth kingdom of Toledo.
17) How was the end of the Visigoth kingdom of Toledo.
• In 507 the Franks defeated the Visigoths. As a
consequence the Visigoths crossed the Pyrenees and
established in Hispania.
• They established the capital city in Toledo.

9. The great achievements of the Visigoths were:
• The territorial unification that was reached through a
military way. They fought against Basques, Cantabrians,
Asturians, Suevi, Franks and Byzantines and after many
battles they got the territorial unification.
• The religious unification was reached through the
conversion of the king “Recaredo” to Catholicism.
• The Judicial unification was made thanks to the Code
Law of “Recesvinto”.
18) What were the great achievements of the Visigoths in
Hispania.
Extra information:
• The Visigoths were in fact Arians (“arrianos”) that
was a different version of Catholicism.
• Arianism affirmed that Jesus was human.

10. The Conversion of Recaredo

11. Liber Iudiciorum o Código de Recesvinto

12. Extra information:
• Did you know that since 415 a.D. there were 32
kings? (As an average every king would have ruled
during 9 years).
• Did you know that most of the Visigoth kings were
assassinated, poisoned, imprisoned, deposed or they
just died in a battle. (Only four had a natural death)
• It is estimated that the Visigoths were
approximately between 80.000 and 300.000 while
the Hispano-Romans were 4 million people. (They
were a minority).
• Among all the Germanic kingdoms that existed in
Europe only the Visigoths founded new cities. (Four
in total: Recópolis, Victoriacum, Ologite and Baiyara).

13. The votive crown of Recesvinto
(La corona votiva de Recesvinto)

14. San Juan de Baños, Palencia

15. The Franks

16. 19) Who were the Franks?
Extra information:
• The first dynasty of the Franks were the Merovingians.
• In the 8th century a new dynasty gained power and ruled
over the Franks.
• That dynasty were the Carolingians.
• The Franks were a
Germanic tribe that
established in Gaul.
(Nowadays France).

17. 20) Tell me who were the most important historical figures of
the Carolingian dynasty?
The most important historical figures were:
• Charles Martel: he was the “Mayor of the Palace” (Mayordomo
de Palacio). He helped the king to govern, became a very
prominent person and defeated the Arabs in the battle of
Poitiers in 732. He gained a lot of influence for his family. He was
the grandfather of Charlemagne.
• Pepin the Short: He was the father of Charlemagne. He made a
coup d’état and became king of France
• Charlemagne: He was the son of Pepin the Short. He fought
against Saxons, Slavs, Muslims and Lombards. He conquered
many territories in Europe. Finally he was crowned emperor in
800 by the Pope Leo III.
The carolingians

19. Palatine chapel of Charlemagne, Aachen,
Germany Marble throne

21. Extra information:
• Mayor of the Palace was a very important position.
It was like a vice president.
• The Carolingian empire lasted till 843, with the
Treaty of Verdun. The Carolingian empire was
divided in three kingdoms among the three
grandsons of Charlemagne.
• The title of emperor was an very relevant institution
that lasted till the 19th century (1806, more
exactly).
• Charlemagne is considered by many people the
father of Europe (because of all the territories that
he controlled).

23. Map of Eurasia, 814

24. Most important cities, 814

25. Ch’ang-an, China
1 million people
500.000 in the suburbs
Constantinople
250.000 inhabitants
Baghdad
The biggest city
of the world
Cordoba
500.000
inhabitants
Aachen
3.000 inhabitants