The Carolingian Empire

[Rostoum919]

Why were the Carolingians so successful compared to other barbarian states that survived after the collapse of western rome ? what were some of the greatest of their achievements ?

[boxtops]

This does sound like homework..... have you looked here? There is loads more if you Google. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolingian_dynasty

[Peter Pedant]

I think youre probably better placed to answer this than the average ABer.

Other barbarian states - visgiths and ostrogoths....

so why did the visigoths kingdom fail and not Carolingian - despite weak monarchs (xc Charlemagne) ? Greater threats - Hasan el inmigrante cd win battles anywhere... or better organisation in France.

[woofgang]

they were so successful because they made their kids do their own homework.

[sandyRoe]

I'm ashamed to admit to a gap, of Black Hole proportions, in my knowledge. Until now I'd never even heard of the Carolingian Empire.
I will watch this thread with interest.

[DaisyNonna]

Try reading Barraclough

[sandyRoe]

Roy, who played Alex Gilroy in Corrie, was he a historian too?

[DTCwordfan]

Sounds like a read of Gibbons, 'The Decline of the Roman Empire' for you. Given the storm coming in, you are in for an entertaining weekend.

[sandyRoe]

Out of idle curiosity, where was this empire centered?

[DTCwordfan]

Aachen was the imperial capital, Sandy, though Charlemagne was crowned emperor in Rome - he also had a few coronations for kingdoms....he died in Aachen as well.

[sandyRoe]

Ah, the Franks. Rolland fighting the Moors at Roncesvalles. That one.

[DTCwordfan]

Charlemagne was in need of amusement.

"Why," they asked him, "do you have such a large number of court
jesters in constant attendance on your royal person?"

"Because," he replied, with a right regal chuckle, "I could not
earn the surname of 'The Great' were I not careful to keep my
wits about me."

[heathfield]

Boom boom!

[Mosaic]

Charles the Great effectively wrote his own history, and as a champion of the Roman church he was totally supported by the papacy in his political and military campaigns - hence becoming the first Holy Roman Emperor. History gets written by the winners and he certainly won - google Charlemagne and Wikipedia will show you all his campaigns.
Charlemagne used arts and literature to create propaganda showing him as the rightful and righteous heir to the Christian Roman Emperors. This was a powerful part of his image creation and also left for future generations a set of buildings to live up to - google palace at Aachen as an example. It's no coincidence that King Alfred of the English modelled his own smaller-scale Christian Renaissance on Charlemagne's example.
The Carolingian propaganda overshadowed the achievements of other 'barbarian' states. The remnants of Visigothic Spain continued to build and create an artistic legacy in the north of Spain as the Moors held the south.
Later still, it was expedient for the western papacy to big up Charlemagne to detract from the achievements of their Byzantine rivals.
It depends on how much you want to write.