In the Saxon Wars which lasted more than thirty years after 772, Charlemagne, king of the Franks, was eventually victorious, adding the Saxon territory to his empire and starting the Christianisation of the Saxon people. To that end, bishoprics were established (at Hildesheim and Halberstadt). In addition, the idea of setting up an abbey in Saxony was first mooted during Charlemagne's reign. However, the plan was only implemented under his son, Emperor Louis the Pious, who announced the creation of an abbey east of the river Weser at a synod in Paderborn in 815. This was located at a place named "Hethis". Although there is some uncertainty over the exact location, it is today thought to be near . The first monks arrived in 816 from the Benedictine abbey from Corbie Abbey in Picardy. They set up a "Probstei", a subsidiary of the motherhouse. Due to the inappropriate location chosen, the monks chose to move in 822 – to the current location near what was then called "Villa Huxori". The new house became known as "Nova Corbeia" (Latin for the "new Corbie"; Old German: "Corvey" ).