815 CE Map of Europe: A Historical Look at Medieval Europe's Borders and Kingdoms

Table of Contents

Introduction

Have you ever wondered what Europe looked like over 1,200 years ago? The year 815 CE falls into a fascinating time in European history—just after the death of Charlemagne, the mighty emperor of the Carolingian Empire. This period marked a turning point that shaped modern European nations.

In this article, we will dive deep into the map of Europe in 815 CE. We’ll look at:

The political boundaries and kingdoms at the time
Major powers such as the Carolingian Empire
Regional tribes and their influence
The religious and cultural environment
Maps and how historians reconstruct them
Why the year 815 is significant in European history

Whether you’re a history enthusiast, student, or just curious about medieval Europe, this guide will walk you through the geography and politics of Europe in 815 CE in a simple and engaging way.

Why is the Year 815 CE Important?

The year 815 CE sits just one year after the death of Charlemagne (d. 814), the first Holy Roman Emperor and one of Europe’s greatest medieval rulers.

Charlemagne’s empire was the largest Western European empire since the fall of the Roman Empire, covering much of modern-day France, Germany, Italy, and beyond. By 815, his son Louis the Pious had taken over the throne and was starting to face the massive challenge of holding the empire together.

So, when we look at the map of Europe in 815 CE, we’re witnessing:

The height of the Carolingian Empire
The early seeds of fragmentation and division
The transition from classical to medieval Europe

Key Features of the 815 CE Map of Europe

1. Carolingian Empire (Frankish Empire)

The most dominant feature on the 815 map of Europe is the Carolingian Empire, which at its peak stretched across:

Present-day France
Germany
Switzerland
The Netherlands
Belgium
Parts of Austria, Italy, and Spain

This was one of the most powerful empires in European history.

Under Louis the Pious, the empire was still united, but signs of division would soon appear. His sons would later split it into West Francia, East Francia, and Middle Francia, eventually forming the roots of modern France and Germany.

2. The Byzantine Empire

To the east and southeast, the Byzantine Empire remained a major power centered in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). While it had lost much of its western territory centuries earlier, it still held:

Greece
Parts of the Balkans
Asia Minor (modern Turkey)

The Byzantines were defenders of Orthodox Christianity, contrasting the Latin Christianity of the west.

3. Muslim Territories (Al-Andalus and Sicily)

In southern Europe, particularly in Spain, the Umayyad Emirate of Córdoba ruled the Islamic territory of Al-Andalus. This region had advanced architecture, science, and a thriving culture.

Parts of Sicily and southern Italy were under Arab influence or were soon to be attacked and controlled by Muslim raiders from North Africa.

4. The British Isles

In 815, England wasn’t a unified kingdom. Instead, it consisted of several Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, known as the Heptarchy:

Northumbria
Mercia
Wessex
East Anglia
Essex
Kent
Sussex

Wessex was beginning to grow in power and would later become the heart of a unified England.

Meanwhile, Scotland and Ireland were ruled by various Celtic kingdoms and tribes.

5. Scandinavia and the Vikings

The Viking Age had begun in 793 CE with the raid on Lindisfarne. By 815, Scandinavia (modern Norway, Sweden, Denmark) was still tribal and pagan, but its people were growing in military power and would soon influence much of Europe through raids and settlement.

6. Slavic and Eastern European Tribes

To the east of the Carolingian Empire, the map of Europe in 815 CE shows many Slavic tribes, some of which would later become the foundations of:

Poland
Hungary
Czechia (Bohemia)
Ukraine
Russia

These tribes were still non-Christian in most areas and would slowly be converted in the following centuries.

A Closer Look: Regional Overview of Europe in 815

Region	Key Powers	Notes
Western Europe	Carolingian Empire	Still united under Louis the Pious
Southern Europe	Umayyad Emirate (Al-Andalus), Papal States, Byzantines	Religious and political diversity
British Isles	Anglo-Saxon kingdoms	Fragmented, pre-unified England
Scandinavia	Norse tribes	Pagan, early Viking Age expansion
Eastern Europe	Slavic tribes	No unified kingdoms yet

Religious and Cultural Landscape

Christianity in the West and East

In 815, Christianity was deeply influential in shaping political alliances and laws. However, there were two branches:

Roman Catholicism (centered in Rome, West)
Eastern Orthodoxy (centered in Constantinople, East)

This divide would lead to the Great Schism later in 1054.

Islamic Civilization

In Spain and North Africa, Islamic culture flourished. Córdoba was one of Europe’s most advanced cities with libraries, universities, and scientific achievements.

Pagan Regions

Scandinavia and parts of Eastern Europe still practiced paganism, worshipping gods like Odin, Thor, and various local deities. Missionaries would attempt to convert these areas in the coming centuries.

How Do Historians Create a Map of 815 CE?

There were no satellite images or accurate maps in the 9th century. So, historians rely on:

Texts from chroniclers (e.g., Einhard’s Life of Charlemagne)
Royal decrees and church records
Archaeological discoveries
Trade and coin evidence
Later maps drawn in the 10th–12th centuries

Using these, they reconstruct what political boundaries probably looked like in 815.

FAQs

Q1: What happened after 815 CE in Europe?

After 815, the Carolingian Empire began to weaken. In 843, it was officially divided by the Treaty of Verdun, leading to the formation of separate kingdoms.

Q2: Were there any maps created during 815 CE?

Not in the modern sense. Medieval maps were often religious and symbolic, not geographic. The most famous map of this kind is the T and O map.

Q3: What languages were spoken in Europe in 815?

Latin was dominant in the West for administration. Various Germanic, Celtic, Slavic, and Arabic languages were also spoken across Europe.

Q4: Was Charlemagne alive in 815 CE?

No, Charlemagne died in 814 CE. His son, Louis the Pious, became emperor in 815.

Q5: How did Europe change after 815?

Europe became increasingly divided. The Carolingian Empire fractured, feudalism developed, and kingdoms like France and Germany began to emerge.

Conclusion: The 815 CE Map of Europe in Context

The year 815 CE was a pivotal moment in European history. While the Carolingian Empire held vast territory, internal cracks were already forming. Meanwhile, other regions were rising—from the Viking north to the Islamic south.

The map of Europe in 815 tells us more than just where kingdoms stood. It tells the story of:

Shifting power
Cultural collision
Religious spread
The birth of modern Europe

Understanding this period helps us see how today’s nations formed—and why history matters so much in shaping the present.

815 CE Map of Europe: Understanding the Political Landscape of Early Medieval Europe

Introduction

Why is the Year 815 CE Important?