ABSTRACT
Following the death of Charlemagne in 814, his son Louis the Pious ascended to the throne. This chapter discusses the myriad crises Louis faced during his reign and the role that the Saxons played within each of them. Louis expended much energy in cultivating the goodwill of the Saxons, including those who had been rebellious during his father’s reign. That goodwill secured the loyalty of his Saxon subjects, which proved valuable in confronting challenges from the Danes, Slavs, and rebellious kin. In addition, using Saxons to deal with external foes and internal dynastic disputes solidified the integration of Saxony within the empire. That integration, in turn, aided in the Christianization of Saxony.
