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How did Carloman’s death in 771 affect Charlemagne’s rule?

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Painting by Albrecht Durer of Charlemagne in ornate coronation robes and crown, holding a sword and orb, with gold embroidery and regal symbols behind him. — Charlemagne Charlemagne, oil on limewood by Albrecht Dürer, 1512; in the collection of the German National Museum, Nürnberg, Germany.

The death of Carloman in 771 had a profound impact on Charlemagne’s rule, as it effectively ended a period of mounting political crisis and rivalry between the two brothers. Following their father Pippin III’s death in 768, the Frankish realm had been divided between them, a situation that threatened the kingdom's unity.12

Upon Carloman’s death, Charlemagne disregarded the rights of his brother’s heirs and took control of the entire Frankish realm. This consolidation of power allowed him to reunite the territories and set the stage for his subsequent expansion of Frankish influence across Gaul, Germany, and Italy.132