Introduction.
The Early Middle Ages started with the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the early 5th century. The earlier part of this era saw the great Germanic and Slavic migration across Europe, with peoples such as the Goths and Lombards settling in Southern Europe, the Franks settling in Gaul and Saxons crossing the sea and settling in Britain. The Eastern Roman Empire was violently shaken by the pressure from the Goths and Avars, and fought bitterly with the ancient Persian enemy. The rise of Islam saw the Arabs conquering immense amounts of territory in the Middle East and North Africa, and in India several great dynasties vied for dominance, with the Rahstrakutas rising towards the end of the 8th century. In the steppes, the Khazars grew in power, and in Scandinavia things were about to change in a way that was to affect the entire continent...
It is year 769.
Western Europe, once united under Roman control, longs for restoration of the old order, glory and power. Only one people in this time, have enough power to bring Western Empire from the grave - Franks. Since rule of Clovis between 5th and 6th century, Frankish tribes grew in power, controlling more and more of former Roman Gaullia. Dynasty started by Clovis ruled till 751, when former Mayor of the palace, with Papal approval, crowned himself as King of the Franks, his name was Pepin the Short.
Now, in year 769, his two sons, Karl and Carloman rule the Frankish kingdom. Another major Christian power on the European continent was the kingdom of Lombardy, ruled by old king Desiderius. Last major Christian ruler was duke of Bavaria - Tasilo III.
Many smaller Christian duchies and kingdoms existed in Europe, non of them played however any major role - perhaps outside kingdom of Asturias - founded in 728 by Visigoths after their Iberian kingdom fell to Muslims. First major victories of Christians rebels marked symbolic beginning of Reconquista.
Since Romans retreated from British Isles in 5th century, Romano-Britons struggled to keep peace. Petty kingdoms and duchies fought against each other as Germanic waves of invaders settled in conquered lands, only to be invaded by their own brethren in next generations.
Germanic Saxons also fought against Franks to the east of their kingdom and Scandinavian raiders - forefathers of Vikings raided coasts of whole Northern Europe. Farther east, tribal Slavic people fought among each other, to establish first independent states of their own in the region - in the process overrunning older Baltic cultures.
Slavs also rubbed elbows with Eastern Roman Empire. Ruled by Constantine V Empire had it's hand full at the time, not only squaring against Bulgarians in Balkans and Turkish Khazars to the north but also fighting against Muslim Arabs in the Middle East.
Abbasid Caliphate was at the height of it's power, controlling territories from Egypt to Indus River, threatening both Christians, Hindu, Buddhists and Zoroastrians.
