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 * Charlemagne with Wife || Gregory Xl || Eleanor of Aquitaine ||
 * [[image:charlemagne_with_wife.jpg]] || [[image:Gregory_XI.jpg]] || [[image:Eleanor_of_Aquitaine.jpg]] ||
 * This is a picture of Charlemagne and his wife. When his father died, Pippin the Short, His kingdom was divided and each son got a part. When his brother died in 771, he ruled the entire kingdom. During that time (from 700-800) charlemagne ruled almost all of Western Europe. He fought various civilizations including the Lombards in Itlay, the Saxons in Germany and the Avars in Eastern Europe. During Charlemagnes rule, he built a "New Rome" in the capital city called Aix-la-Chapelle. When he built New Rome he also reintroduced the traditions of the Roman Empire. The traditions included organized government, rule of law, literacy, art, and architecture. Charlemagnes army was so scary that opposing armies usually surrendered before the battle. His army was massive, and consisted of calvary and foot soldiers that responded quickly to commands given by a trumpet. The Franks' tribal system of government was not good enough anymore for his vast land. His new system would be the Roman Catholic Church. Charlremagne also provided a great education, since the Franks did not have an education system. || The picture showed is Pope Gregory XI. The Great Schism occured from 1378-1417. The Great Schism were when two rival popes reigned, with one in Rome and the other in Avignon. During the Schism Europe was already dealing with a deadly plague called The Black Death and a war. Each pope excommunicated eachothers followers. Somebody had the idea that both popes should step down so one would became the ruler, but both popes would not agree to do so. The Great Schism made existing problems for the church. An example is that the church officials became rivals and powerful new kings. The split caused a spiritual crisis. The Great Schism ended by one pope dieing. || The picture above is named Eleanor of Aquitaine. Eleanor served as the queen for France and the queen of England. She was also the daughter of Duke William X of Aquitaine. Eleanor married the king of France. His name was Louie Vll. They eventually got a divorce during the Second Crusade. After the divorce she got married again to Henry ll. They became the rulers of England. Marriage helped politically. Marriages helped form alliances between powerful families. It was also a political strategy. Inheritance laws were different in each country. Choosing a king in Scotland would be voted from a group of lords. Most laws were that the oldest surviving son of the king was the new king. ||