840 - 883: A Time of Change
Karl's first order as king was to implement a more efficient version of the feudal system, putting the serfs into their rightful place. This and other moves led to over a decade of rebelliousness from local nobles; known as the the Era of Hostility, little was accomplished in this time.
In the meantime, emissaries from West Francia sought an audience with the king. Karl allowed this meeting and soon established a dialogue with the nearby kingdom.
Just as policy dictated, Berlin was founded as the country's capital. Construction began on a center of academia, although progress was temporarily halted.
Envoys were sent west to Hamburg, .....
And east to Poland in an attempt to bring the region under German control.
Near the tail end of the Era of Hostility, German innovators caught wind of an administrative system used to great effect in a nation far to the east. At the same time, military leaders began experimenting with a new type of weapon, the mace.
Hamburg was soon established as the chief center of German culture and wealth in the area, providing a mesh between the primarily Danish north and Saxon south.
For a change, Viking leaders made contact by diplomatic means rather than by a raiding party. King Karl, surprised, hastily agreed to a pact of non-aggression.
In a ceremony attended to by all of the kingdom's nobility, Dietrich, Duke of the Rhineland and Hesse, personally swore fealty to Karl. This event is generally regarded as the end of the Era of Hostility.
Local serfs of Brandenburg and Silesia began working on large-scale wheat farms.
Around the same time, Poland was added to the list of lands under the benevolent rule of Germany. Opinion of Karl was high, and it was thought that it could go no higher.
But it did. The aristocracy, mainly educated Christians, applauded Karl's decision to institute Christianity as the state religion of Germany. Much of the common populace was still either pagan or atheist, but missionaries from Frankfurt traveled to Berlin, spreading the word of Christ to many of the city's peasants.
In another national event, several prominent Danish Christians were liberated from Viking mercenaries by a band of German soldiers. Quite thankful for their liberation, the Danes donated a tidy sum to the administration.
Although enlightened to the Christian faith, the people of Frankfurt were desperately lacking in basic infrastructure. In a generous act of good faith, Karl ordered a granary be built for the city's inhabitants.
One of Karl's last commissions as king was to start the domestication of a large herd of cattle in Pomerania. It was a resounding success, and fueled growth in Berlin.
On July 19, 883, Karl died of a heat stroke at the age of 75. His eldest son, Karl (49 years of age), will not attempt to run for king. Instead, Karl's younger son, Ludwig, and nephew, Jakob, will run, in addition to several nobles from the Reichstag.
-In addition, Karl implemented a law stating that candidates not of the current ruling dynasty must gather at least two-thirds of the Reichstag's votes. Otherwise, the title of king will go to the dynasty member with the most votes. In event of a tie between dynasty members, the Reichstag's speaker (Me) will choose the king.