Economic incentives for the Frankish conquest of Saxony
Christopher Landon
Contrary to received scholarly wisdom, this article argues that the Frankish conquest of Saxony under Charlemagne in late eighth and early ninth centuries was driven no small part by pursuit material wealth. Specifically, most scholars have viewed pre‐conquest as too materially impoverished for economic incentives played a significant role expansion into lands between Rhine Elbe. However, thorough review written archaeological evidence suggests had much offer its Carolingian conquerors form plunder tribute, land mineral resources, revenue from royal ecclesiastical renders taxation, access control trade routes.
Early Medieval Europe