Saxon Wars

E94032

The Saxon Wars were a series of late 8th- and early 9th-century campaigns in which Charlemagne and the Frankish Empire fought to conquer and Christianize the pagan Saxon tribes in northern Germany.


Statements (47)
Predicate Object
instanceOf military conflict
series of wars
belligerent Carolingian Empire
Frankish Empire
Saxon tribes
Saxons
cause Frankish expansion into Saxon territory
religious conflict between Christianity and Saxon paganism
chronology early 9th century
late 8th century
commander Charlemagne
conflictType conquest war
religious war
consequence consolidation of Carolingian power in northern Europe
long-term integration of Saxons into the Frankish and later German kingdoms
spread of Latin Christianity in northern Germany
endTime 804
goal Christianization of the Saxons
conquest of Saxony
historicalPeriod Early Middle Ages
ledBy Charlemagne
location Frankish Empire
Saxony NERFINISHED
northern Germany
notableEvent Massacre of Verden
destruction of the Irminsul
division of Saxony into Frankish counties
imposition of the Capitulatio de partibus Saxoniae
revolts led by Widukind
opponentCulture Saxon paganism
opposedBy Saxon nobility
opposingCommander Widukind
partOf Carolingian expansion
Charlemagne's reign
primarySource Einhard's Vita Karoli Magni
Royal Frankish Annals
regionAffected Elbe River region
Lower Saxony NERFINISHED
Weser River region
religiousAspect Christianization
suppression of paganism
result Frankish victory
annexation of Saxony into the Frankish Empire
forced conversion of many Saxons to Christianity
integration of Saxon territory into the Carolingian realm
rulingDynasty Carolingian dynasty
startTime 772

Referenced by (8)

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