Properly considered, the eighth century is the most important and memorable which Europe has ever seen.

During its course the geographical limits, the ecclesiastical polity, and the feudal system within and under which our western group of nations was destined to live for five or six centuries, were provisionally settled and determined.

The wonderful house of the Carolings, which produced no less than five successive rulers of genius (of whom two had extraordinary genius, Charles Martel and Charlemagne), were the human instruments of this great work.

The Frankish Monarchy was hastening to ruin when they saved it.

Saxons in the East and Saracens in the South were on the point of extinguishing the few surviving embers of civilisation which still existed.