Home Region:  Western Europe (Europe)

Carolingian Empire II

840 CE 987 CE
EQ 2020  fr_carolingian_emp_2 / FrCarlL
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
752 CE 840 CE Carolingian Empire I (fr_carolingian_emp_1)    [continuity]

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.
987 CE 1150 CE Proto-French Kingdom (fr_capetian_k_1)    [continuity]

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  General Description  
Members of the Carolingian Dynasty had served as mayors of the palace under the Merovingian kings from the late 7th century CE onwards, wielding substantial power behind the throne. In 752 CE, however, Childeric III (last of the Merovingian rulers) was deposed and they seized outright control of the Frankish realm. [1] [2] With the new dynasty the capital moved east: Aachen, or Aix-la-Chapelle, became the main royal residence of the Carolingian monarchs until the empire began to disintegrate in the 9th century. [3]
Charlemagne was the most powerful Carolingian king, but after his death in 811 CE, the empire stopped expanding. The year 811 also marked the beginning of a rise in sociopolitical instability that resulted ultimately in a complete split of the kingdom. After the 843 CE Treaty of Verdun, the Carolingian lands were partitioned among Louis the Pious’ sons: Charles took the west, Louis the German the east, and Lothair took the Frankish territory between these two regions. [4] The Treaty of Meerssen (870 CE) resulted in the absorption of the central Frankish realm into West and East Francia, forming a boundary that even now endures as the border between France and Germany. [5] The empire was briefly reunited from 884 to 887 under Charles the Fat, [6] but as a rule the Frankish lands remained politically fragmented from the mid-9th century to 987 CE, when power passed to the Capetian Dynasty. [7]
This polity represents the late period of Carolingian rule, from 840 to 987 CE.
Population and political organization
In the Carolingian era, the lands under Frankish control grew considerably and an administrative system was developed in order to govern this large territory. [8] One official position that first appeared in this period was the missus dominicus (king’s representative), who could be sent out from the court to inspect the counties and pass on the king’s decrees. [9] Decrees were sometimes set down in documents called capitularies. [9] However, capitularies post-dating 843 CE are only found in West Francia, and they stopped being produced there too after the death of Charles the Bald in 877. [9] [10] This might suggest that the office of missus dominicus did not exist beyond that date and did not survive the rise in instability.
The Carolingian kings ruled in an essentially decentralized fashion like the Merovingians before them. Control over the regions was delegated to fief holders, often hereditary vassals of the king. [11] The king ruled by decree [9] and under Charlemagne (r. 800-814 CE) counties were established as the basic unit of governance. [9] Counts were responsible for enforcing local laws, dispensing justice and setting taxes. [9] By 850 CE, almost every county in West Francia also had a viscount, who assisted the count in his duties. [12]
During Charlemagne’s reign, the population of Gaul probably reached 5 million [13] but levels of urbanization were low in these supposed ’dark ages’ of medieval France: no town reached over 10,000 inhabitants between the 8th century and 1000 CE. [14]

[1]: (Wood 1994, 292) Wood, Ian. 1994. The Merovingian Kingdoms 450-751. London: Longman. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/ARUIRN35.

[2]: (Morby and Rozier 2014) Morby, John E., and Charlie Rozier. 2014. Dynasties of the World. 2nd ed., online edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. DOI: 10.1093/acref/9780191780073.001.0001. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/3C5IVS6E.

[3]: (Chazelle 1995, 31) Chazelle, Celia. 1995. “Aix-La-Chapelle.” In Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, edited by William W. Kibler, Grover A. Zinn, Lawrence Earp, and John Bell Henneman, Jr., 31-32. New York: Garland Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/J93C7T3S.

[4]: (Chazelle 1995, 332) Chazelle, Celia. 1995. “Carolingian Dynasty.” In Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, edited by William W. Kibler, Grover A. Zinn, Lawrence Earp, and John Bell Henneman, Jr., 328-34. New York: Garland Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/F3ZBDZSD.

[5]: (Chazelle 1995, 332-33) Chazelle, Celia. 1995. “Carolingian Dynasty.” In Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, edited by William W. Kibler, Grover A. Zinn, Lawrence Earp, and John Bell Henneman, Jr., 328-34. New York: Garland Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/F3ZBDZSD.

[6]: (Chazelle 1995, 333) Chazelle, Celia. 1995. “Carolingian Dynasty.” In Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, edited by William W. Kibler, Grover A. Zinn, Lawrence Earp, and John Bell Henneman, Jr., 328-34. New York: Garland Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/F3ZBDZSD.

[7]: (Bouchard 1995, 312) Bouchard, Constance B. 1995. “Capetian Dynasty.” In Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, edited by William W. Kibler, Grover A. Zinn, Lawrence Earp, and John Bell Henneman, Jr., 312-17. New York: Garland Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/2SNRCJVG.

[8]: (Chazelle 1995, 329-30) Chazelle, Celia. 1995. “Carolingian Dynasty.” In Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, edited by William W. Kibler, Grover A. Zinn, Lawrence Earp, and John Bell Henneman, Jr., 328-34. New York: Garland Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/F3ZBDZSD.

[9]: (Chazelle 1995, 330) Chazelle, Celia. 1995. “Carolingian Dynasty.” In Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, edited by William W. Kibler, Grover A. Zinn, Lawrence Earp, and John Bell Henneman, Jr., 328-34. New York: Garland Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/F3ZBDZSD.

[10]: (Chazelle 1995, 318) Chazelle, Celia. 1995. “Capitulary.” In Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, edited by William W. Kibler, Grover A. Zinn, Lawrence Earp, and John Bell Henneman, Jr., 318-19. New York: Garland Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/K3U2V585.

[11]: (Nicolle 1995, 18) Nicolle, David. 2005. Carolingian Cavalryman AD 768-987. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/QHXZFXS3.

[12]: (Boulton 1995, 1822) Boulton, D’A. Jonathan D. 1995. “Viscount/Viscounty.” In Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, edited by William W. Kibler, Grover A. Zinn, Lawrence Earp, and John Bell Henneman, Jr., 1822-23. New York: Garland Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/IZK522AK.

[13]: (Percy, Jr. 1995, 1415) Percy, Jr., William A. 1995. “Population and Demography.” In Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, edited by William W. Kibler, Grover A. Zinn, Lawrence Earp, and John Bell Henneman, Jr., 1415-17. New York: Garland Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/QI73FMSM.

[14]: (Percy, Jr. 1995, 1739) Percy, Jr., William A. 1995. “Towns.” In Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, edited by William W. Kibler, Grover A. Zinn, Lawrence Earp, and John Bell Henneman, Jr., 1739-40. New York: Garland Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/Z3F9HKUJ.

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Carolingian Empire II (fr_carolingian_emp_2) was in:
 (840 CE 986 CE) Paris Basin
Home NGA: Paris Basin

General Variables
Identity and Location Carolingian Empire II (fr_carolingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 31 U 840 CE  987 CE
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Original Name Carolingian Empire II 840 CE  987 CE
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Capital Aachen [Aix-la-Chapelle] 840 CE  987 CE
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Alternative Name Francia 840 CE  987 CE
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Temporal Bounds Carolingian Empire II (fr_carolingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Peak Years
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Duration [840 CE ➜ 987 CE]
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Political and Cultural Relations Carolingian Empire II (fr_carolingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations de_east_francia nominal allegiance to fr_carolingian_emp_2 842 CE  919 CE
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Supracultural Entity Latin Christendom 840 CE  987 CE
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Succeeding Entity Proto-French Kingdom 840 CE  987 CE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction 840 CE  987 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity continuity 840 CE  987 CE
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Succeeding Entity
987 CE 1150 CE
Proto-French Kingdom (fr_capetian_k_1)   [continuity] 
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Preceding Entity
752 CE 840 CE
Carolingian Empire I (fr_carolingian_emp_1)   [continuity] 
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Degree of Centralization 840 CE  987 CE
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Degree of Centralization 840 CE  987 CE
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Language Carolingian Empire II (fr_carolingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family Indo-European 840 CE  987 CE
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Language 840 CE  987 CE
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Religion Carolingian Empire II (fr_carolingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Religion Genus Christianity 840 CE  987 CE
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Religion Family Catholic 840 CE  987 CE
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Religion Roman Catholic 840 CE  987 CE
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Alternate Religion Uncoded Undecided 840 CE  987 CE
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Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Carolingian Empire II (fr_carolingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement 840 CE  987 CE
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Polity Territory 850 CE
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Polity Territory 900 CE
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Polity Territory 950 CE
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Polity Population 840 CE 856 CE
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Polity Population 857 CE 899 CE
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Polity Population 900 CE 987 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Carolingian Empire II (fr_carolingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy 840 CE  987 CE
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Religious Level 840 CE  987 CE
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Military Level 840 CE  987 CE
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Administrative Level 840 CE  987 CE
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Professions Carolingian Empire II (fr_carolingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier 840 CE  987 CE
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Professional Priesthood Present 840 CE  987 CE
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Professional Military Officer 840 CE  987 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Carolingian Empire II (fr_carolingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building 840 CE  987 CE
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Merit Promotion 840 CE  987 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat 840 CE  987 CE
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Examination System 840 CE  987 CE
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Law Carolingian Empire II (fr_carolingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer 840 CE  987 CE
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Judge 840 CE  987 CE
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840 CE  987 CE
Court 840 CE  987 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Carolingian Empire II (fr_carolingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Market 840 CE  987 CE
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Irrigation System 840 CE  987 CE
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Food Storage Site Unknown Suspected 840 CE  987 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System 840 CE  987 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Carolingian Empire II (fr_carolingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Road 840 CE  987 CE
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Port Unknown Suspected 840 CE  987 CE
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Canal 840 CE  987 CE
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Bridge 840 CE  987 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Carolingian Empire II (fr_carolingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry 840 CE  987 CE
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Information / Writing System Carolingian Empire II (fr_carolingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record Present 840 CE  987 CE
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Script Present 840 CE  987 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Present 840 CE  987 CE
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Nonwritten Record Present 840 CE  987 CE
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Non Phonetic Writing Absent 840 CE  987 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Carolingian Empire II (fr_carolingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Sacred Text 840 CE  987 CE
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Religious Literature Unknown Suspected 840 CE  987 CE
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Practical Literature Unknown Suspected 840 CE  987 CE
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Philosophy 840 CE  987 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification Unknown Suspected 840 CE  987 CE
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History 840 CE  987 CE
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Fiction 840 CE  987 CE
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Calendar Unknown Suspected 840 CE  987 CE
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Information / Money Carolingian Empire II (fr_carolingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Token 840 CE  987 CE
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Precious Metal Present Inferred 840 CE  987 CE
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Paper Currency Absent Inferred 840 CE  987 CE
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Indigenous Coin 840 CE  987 CE
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Foreign Coin 840 CE  987 CE
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Article 840 CE  987 CE
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Information / Postal System Carolingian Empire II (fr_carolingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Postal Station Absent 840 CE  987 CE
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General Postal Service Absent 840 CE  987 CE
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Courier 840 CE  987 CE
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Information / Measurement System Carolingian Empire II (fr_carolingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Carolingian Empire II (fr_carolingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade 840 CE  987 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Unknown Suspected 840 CE  987 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared 840 CE  987 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position 840 CE  987 CE
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Modern Fortification 840 CE  987 CE
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Moat 840 CE  987 CE
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Fortified Camp 840 CE  987 CE
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Earth Rampart 840 CE  987 CE
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Ditch 840 CE  987 CE
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Complex Fortification 840 CE  987 CE
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Long Wall absent 840 CE  987 CE
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Military use of Metals Carolingian Empire II (fr_carolingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Steel 840 CE  987 CE
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Iron 840 CE  987 CE
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Copper 840 CE  987 CE
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Bronze 840 CE  987 CE
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Projectiles Carolingian Empire II (fr_carolingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine 840 CE  987 CE
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Sling Siege Engine 840 CE  987 CE
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Sling 840 CE  987 CE
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Self Bow 840 CE  987 CE
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Javelin 840 CE  987 CE
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Handheld Firearm Absent 840 CE  987 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery Absent 840 CE  987 CE
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Crossbow 840 CE  987 CE
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Composite Bow 840 CE  987 CE
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Atlatl 840 CE  987 CE
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Handheld weapons Carolingian Empire II (fr_carolingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
War Club 840 CE  987 CE
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Sword 840 CE  987 CE
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Spear 840 CE  987 CE
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Polearm 840 CE  987 CE
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Dagger 840 CE  987 CE
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Battle Axe 840 CE  987 CE
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Animals used in warfare Carolingian Empire II (fr_carolingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Horse 840 CE  987 CE
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Elephant 840 CE  987 CE
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Donkey 840 CE  987 CE
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Dog 840 CE  987 CE
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Camel 840 CE  987 CE
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Armor Carolingian Empire II (fr_carolingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc 840 CE  987 CE
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Shield 840 CE  987 CE
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Scaled Armor 840 CE  987 CE
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Plate Armor 840 CE  987 CE
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Limb Protection 840 CE  987 CE
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Leather Cloth 840 CE  987 CE
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Laminar Armor 840 CE  987 CE
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Helmet 840 CE  987 CE
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Chainmail 840 CE  987 CE
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Breastplate 840 CE  987 CE
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Naval technology Carolingian Empire II (fr_carolingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel 840 CE  987 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc 840 CE  987 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service 840 CE  987 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Carolingian Empire II (fr_carolingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad 840 CE  987 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary 840 CE  987 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic 840 CE  987 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward 840 CE  987 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners 840 CE  987 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted 840 CE  987 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife 840 CE  987 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers 840 CE  987 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain 840 CE  987 CE
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Human Sacrifice Carolingian Empire II (fr_carolingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Instability Data
Power Transitions