| 496 |
Clovis adopts Roman Christianity |
| 523 |
Boethius writes Consolation of Philosophy |
| 540 |
Cassiodorus establishes a monastic library at Vivarium |
| 596 |
Pope Gregory I sends missionaries to convert the Anglo-Saxons |
| 717 |
Charles Martel becomes mayor of the palace under a weak Merovingian king |
| 732 |
Charles Martel defeats the Muslims at Tours |
| 751 |
Pepin the Short, with papal support, deposes the Merovingian ruler and becomes king of
the Franks |
| 755 |
Pepin donates to the papacy lands taken from the Lombards |
| 768 |
Charlemagne becomes king of the Franks |
| 774 |
Charlemagne defeats the Lombards |
| 782 |
Alcuin of York heads Charlemagne's palace school |
| c. 799 |
Charlemagne subdues the Saxons |
| 800 |
Charlemagne is crowned emperor of the Romans by Pope Leo III |
| 814 |
Charlemagne dies and is succeeded by his son, Louis the Pious |
| 840 |
Death of Louis the Pious: the empire is divided among his sons |
| c. 840s |
Height of Viking attacks |
| c. 890 |
Magyars invade central Europe |
