European Union and Conquest


Figure 1.--

Ceasar's conquest of Gaul in the 1st century BC gave Rome control of an emense swath of Western Europe. After the fall of Rome in the 5th century, many Christian kings and emperors as well as popes have tried to unite the continent by conquest. The most successful was Charlemegne in the 9th century. Others amazed great power, but never achieved control over such a huge territory. Napoleon in the 19th century and Hitler in the 20th century dominated the continent, but for relatively brief periods. The Europeans today are uniting economically within the European Union. The possibility of political union is a still unanswered question.

Roman Empire

Ceasar's conquest of Gaul in the 1st century BC gave Rome control of an emense swath of Western Europe. After the fall of Rome in the 5th century, many Christian kings and emperors as well as popes have tried to unite the continent by conquest.

European Conquerors

Charlemagne

The most successful European conqueror attempting to reunite Europe was was Charlemagne in the 9th century. Others amazed great power, but never achieved control over such a huge territory. Europe was united as never since in 800 AD when Charlemagne (Carolus Magnus or Charle the Great) was crowned Emperor by the pope. Charlemagne and his Empire dominated the 9th century. He conquered Germany with his booted Missionnaries in defeating Witikind who had no choice than to be baptised with all the Saxons of Germany. He conquered too the Friesens of Norway, Sweeden, and Northern Germany as well as Bavaria. He fixed the limits of the Empire with Spain in Navarra at West, Danes marks (which became Denmark) at North and Rome at South after having conquered Lombardy. This Western Empire (different from Eastern Empire of Constantinople) was the largest Christian territory ever constituted. Every Emperor or King dominating Europe was always seeking to reconstitute this Empire. After Charlemagne's death, his Empire was divided between his three sons, Louis le Cahauve, Lothaire, and Louis the German. The history of Europe for more than a thousand years was a tension between a unified Europe and national identities, principally Austria, England, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Spain, and Italy.

Henry IV (1050-1106)

Henry IV, the Emperor of Germany was humiliated by Pope Gregory VII at Canossa in 1077 as monarchs and popes struggled over their temoral and secular authorities. Henry was forced to dress as a pentinent and stand barefoot in the snow for 3 days outside the Castle of Canossa where Pope Gregory was quartered.

Charles V

Charles V by virtue of Hapsburg birth inherited a huge empire including both Germany and Spain--the most powerful country in Europe at the time. In addirion there were small possessions including the Lowlands (the Netherlands and Belgium) as well as holdings in Italy. Not only were his heritary holdings emense, but as a result of the Conquistadores, hugecquantities of gold and silver were flowing into his treasury from the Americas.

Louis XIV

France under Louis XIV was the most powerful continental power of the 17th century and dazzeled Europe with its magnificaent court. Louis used that power to expand the borders of France to Rhine, acquiring Alsace. (Loraine was later acquired by Louis XV after the death of the king of Poland whose daughter he married.) Louis XIV was unable, however, to subdue the stuborn Dutch. William III played a major role in fristrating Louis' ambitions. His efforts ended in a stalemate with his final war, the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-14). French armies were defeated by the combined efforts of Prince Eugene and the Duke of Marlborough.

Napoleon (1798-1815)

Napoleon engulfed Europe in almost constant war from 1798 to 1815. These wars are known collectiveky as the Napoleonic Wars. Historians today debate whether his efforts to dominate Euroope were a continuation of the French Revolution and it ideals of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity, or another failed attemo in a long history of European conquerors.

Hitler (1939-45)

Hitler in the 20th century dominated the continent, but a brief if extrodinarily horific period from 1940-44. Most Europeans thought the French Army was the most powerful military force on the continent. With the fall of France in 1940, Hitler and the NAZIs dominatedc the continent and by December 1941 were with a few miles of Lenningrad and Moscow. Hitler's plans for Europe, especially the East are almost impossible to comprehend.

European Union

The Europeans today are uniting economically within the European Union. The possibility of political union is a still unanswered question.

National Rivaleries

A Canadian reader poses an interesting question, "I think that those national rivalries, even if bloody, were largely responsable for the cultural and technoilogical evolution of Europe in so small time. Take just fashion. France was for long a leader after having used the weaving technics of Flanders after Louis XIV conquered this province from Philip II (son of Charles V of Austria and Spain). It was Louis XIV who broke this empire by placing his own son on the Spanish throne--causing the War of the Spanish succession. Knowing they had no chance after Henry VIII's conversion to Protestantism th to win the succession of Maximillian, England focused on the seas, lured by the wealth flowing from the America to Spain. In part because they had the best fishermen in the world, the English developed the vest ships. France challenged the Engish for control of the seas, but the French focus was always continental. Finally Nouvelle France (Canada) and the restvif BNorth America was lost to the English. Voltaire called Canada as just some pieces of snow."







HBC






Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main Roman page]
[Introduction] [Activities] [Art chronologies] [Biographies] [Chronologies] [Countries] [Photography] [Style Index]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Glossaries] [Satellite sites] [Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]



Created: August 6, 2003
Last updated: August 6, 2003