Ganshof argues that Charlemagne's share of plunder was "certain to have been very considerable, and during periods of conquest must have brought substantial additions to the treasury." Wilson argues that during the Avar War, Charlemagne's "greatest stroke of good fortune, was the appropriation of the vast Avar treasure" After attacking the Avar camp known as 'The Ring' Charlemagne amassed a huge wealth and, as Einhard writes, it turned the Franks "from paupers into midases.".
With this treasure Charlemagne was able to fund further military campaigns, as well as also being able to reward the barons, whose allegiance he needed in order to keep the Empire stable. Wilson backs this viewpoint by suggesting that Charlemagne's perseverance in waging war against the Saxons remarkably strengthened his hold on the loyalty of those warrior-barons on whom he relied. Therefore we can see this illustrates the view that Charlemagne's wars were inspired by ways in which to secure the loyalty of the counts and barons that ruled the separate regions, without this they would rebel and deny Charlemagne's over-lordship. Einhard and Becher both underplay the role of the church during the Saxon Wars; instead they view it as a tool of government by which to claim booty. This can be illustrated through the fact that the inhabitants of parishes were required to provide the material basis for their parish church, thus suggesting that these methods were associated more with the taking of booty and the rule of conquest rather than with religious missionary activity.
Perhaps Saxony did not yield much plunder, but there were certainly large amounts of treasure to be found in the east during Charlemagne's conquest against the Huns. Riche even goes so far to suggest that this was the most profitable war with regards to the amount of gold and treasure in which they found. Therefore, we can only assume that the true motive behind the Frank's invasion of the Huns was for plunder, as there is certainly no evidence to suggest that there was any religious intent behind the attack.
