Pepin the Short and the Expulsion of the Moors from Septimania

After consolidating power as sole mayor of the Franks, Pepin the Short launches a campaign against the Moors, who had retaken Narbonne. He successfully drives them out of Septimania, annexing the region into his expanding Frankish kingdom.

Weakened by internal strife between the Umayyads and Abbasids and preoccupied with conflicts against Christian forces in northern Spain, the Moors retreat south of the Pyrenees and abandon their raids into Frankish territories.

The Franks continue their conquests, reclaiming southwestern France, which had previously fallen to Islamic forces after the Visigothic defeat. They later extend their rule further, bringing the Balearic Islands under Frankish influence.

This marks a decisive shift in the balance of power, securing Frankish dominance in the region and curbing Moorish expansion north of the Pyrenees.

Mediterranean Southwest Europe (748–759 CE): Lombard Expansion, Papal States, and Technological Innovation

The era 748–759 CE in Mediterranean Southwest Europe witnesses a major realignment of power in Italy due to Lombard territorial expansion, the foundation of the Papal States through Frankish intervention, and significant technological advancements in metallurgy originating from Spain.

Lombard Capture of Ravenna and End of Byzantine Italy

The balance of power in Italy is altered permanently when the Lombards seize the Exarchate of Ravenna in 751 CE, definitively ending Byzantine imperial influence across northern and central Italy. This shift transforms the political landscape, isolating the papacy and compelling it to seek new alliances, thereby reshaping regional geopolitics.

The Donation of Pepin and Birth of the Papal States

Responding to the Lombard threat, Pope Stephen II allies with the Frankish king Pepin the Short, whose intervention decisively changes Italian political dynamics. In 756 CE, the Donation of Pepin ratifies papal control over central Italian territories previously held by Byzantium. This historic arrangement establishes the Republic of St. Peter, commonly known as the Papal States, inaugurating a new epoch of papal secular authority.

Technological Advances: The Catalan Forge

This era also sees significant technological innovations in metallurgy, particularly the introduction of the Catalan forge in Spain. This advancement allows for the unprecedented production of sizable quantities of iron in a single heat, representing a transformative leap forward in iron production. Unlike earlier European bloomeries—which typically produced less than one kilogram per firing—these advanced forges, powered by water-driven bellows, dramatically increase output, averaging around three hundred kilograms per bloom. This technological breakthrough significantly impacts agricultural, military, and industrial capabilities across medieval Europe.

Continued Mozarab Presence in Iberia

In Moorish-controlled Iberia, Mozarab communities continue to flourish, maintaining their religious autonomy while absorbing Islamic linguistic and cultural influences. These communities further integrate and enrich the diverse cultural fabric of the Iberian Peninsula, particularly in urban centers like Toledo, Córdoba, and Seville.

Legacy of the Era

The era 748–759 CE fundamentally reshapes Mediterranean Southwest Europe through significant political realignments in Italy, the establishment of enduring papal political authority, and notable technological progress in Iberia. These transformations set the stage for subsequent medieval developments, highlighting the dynamic interplay of political, religious, and technological factors that define this crucial period.

The balance of power in Italy is altered permanently when the Lombards take the Exarchate of Ravenna, thus ending imperial influence in north and central Italy and indirectly fostering the historic alliance between the papacy and the Franks.

The "Donation of Pepin" (756) ratifies a new period of papal rule in central Italy, which becomes known as the Republic of St. Peter, or the Papal States.

The Slavic kingdom founded a century earlier by the Frankish merchant Samo, which includes the lands of present Slovenia, in 748 comes under Frankish rule.

Pepin the Short crushes another revolt in Saxony in 748.

Grifo, half-brother of Carloman and Pepin, seeks to establish his own rule in Bavaria after the death of Odilo, Duke of Bavaria, in 748, but is defeated by Pepin, who installs their nephew, Odilo's infant son Tassilo III as duke of Bavaria, but under Frankish overlordship.

The empire's resources are engaged in fighting the Bulgarian Empire, enabling Aistulf to capture the Exarchate of Ravenna and the Romagna in 751, thus ending imperial influence in north and central Italy and indirectly fostering the historic alliance between the papacy and the Franks.

The Deposition of Childeric III and the Rise of the Carolingian Dynasty (751)

In 751, Pepin the Short, Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia, formally deposes Childeric III, the last Merovingian king, with the backing of Pope Zachary. This momentous event marks the end of the Merovingian dynasty, which had long been reduced to a ceremonial role, and the official rise of the Carolingians as rulers of Francia.

Papal Support and the Justification for Deposition

Pepin’s claim to the throne is strengthened by papal endorsement, as Pope Zachary seeks Frankish military assistance against the Lombards, who threaten Rome. The alliance with the papacy is a deliberate break from the Carolingians’ earlier loosely allied relationship with the Lombards, shifting Frankish priorities toward protecting the papal states.

In exchange for Pepin’s pledge to defend the Church, Zachary sanctions the deposition of Childeric III, arguing that "it is better for he who has the power to be king rather than he who is king in name alone." This ruling provides religious legitimacy for Pepin’s seizure of power, ensuring broad support from the Frankish nobility and clergy.

Pepin the Short Becomes King of the Franks

Following Childeric’s deposition, Pepin is elected king by the Frankish nobility, a traditional Germanic practice, and formally assumes the Frankish throne. With this act, the Carolingian dynasty is established, replacing the centuries-old Merovingian line.

Pepin’s ascension not only reshapes Frankish governance but also cements the alliance between the Carolingians and the Papacy, a relationship that will define medieval European politics and reach its zenith under Pepin’s son, Charlemagne.

Mediterranean Southwest Europe (772–783 CE): Charlemagne's Conquest and the End of Lombard Rule

The era 772–783 CE in Mediterranean Southwest Europe is dominated by Charlemagne’s decisive conquest of the Lombard Kingdom, fundamentally altering Italy's political landscape and setting the stage for a new imperial epoch under Frankish rule.

Charlemagne's Lombard Campaign

In 774 CE, Charlemagne, King of the Franks, successfully completes his campaign against the Lombards by capturing their capital, Pavia. His victory results in the deposition of Lombard King Desiderius and marks the definitive end of independent Lombard power in Italy. Charlemagne assumes the title King of the Lombards, integrating the Lombard territories into his expanding Frankish empire.

End of Lombard Autonomy and Regional Realignment

With Charlemagne’s conquest, the political autonomy the Lombards had enjoyed for over two centuries effectively ceases. The integration of the Lombard kingdom into Charlemagne’s dominion reshapes Italy’s political structure, reducing the influence of local Lombard elites and enhancing Frankish administrative control.

Strengthened Papal-Frankish Alliance

The conquest further consolidates the historic alliance between the papacy and the Frankish monarchy, initiated by Pepin the Short. Charlemagne reaffirms papal territorial claims, reinforcing the temporal authority of the Papal States and solidifying a powerful political and religious partnership central to medieval European politics.

Continued Mozarab Cultural Evolution in Iberia

In Iberia, Mozarab communities persist under stable Islamic governance, particularly in cultural hubs like Córdoba, Seville, and Toledo. These communities continue adapting culturally, blending their Latin-Christian traditions with the Arabic and Islamic influences of their Moorish rulers, further enriching the Iberian cultural landscape.

Technological and Economic Development

Technological advancements, particularly in metallurgy following the introduction of the Catalan forge, continue to enhance regional economic productivity. Increased iron production supports broader economic prosperity, facilitating improvements in agriculture, military technology, and craftsmanship throughout the region.

Legacy of the Era

The era 772–783 CE marks a transformative moment in Mediterranean Southwest Europe. Charlemagne’s conquest ends Lombard rule, reshapes Italy’s political map, and fortifies the papal-Frankish alliance. These developments lay the groundwork for the emergence of the Carolingian Empire, profoundly influencing the region’s medieval trajectory.