# Charlemagne destroys the Irminsul (772)

URL: https://christianity-history.com/timeline/772-charlemagne-destroys-the-irminsul
Location: Saxony
Themes: War

Opening his wars against the Saxons, Charlemagne destroys the Irminsul, a sacred pillar of the pagan Saxons. Three decades of campaigns follow, in which baptism is imposed as a condition of submission to Frankish rule. At this point in the timeline (772), the Bishop of Rome was Pope Adrian I (1 February 772 – 26 December 795).

## Why it matters
The Saxon Wars brought northern Germany into Latin Christendom, but by force rather than persuasion.

Pope at the time: [Pope Adrian I](https://christianity-history.com/popes/pope-adrian-i)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Irminsul](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irminsul)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Charlemagne destroys the Irminsul](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Charlemagne+destroys+the+Irminsul)
- [Wikipedia — Age Of Councils (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_seven_ecumenical_councils)