Charlemagne

Charlemagne was a powerful ruler who lived a long time ago. He was King of the Franks from 768, King of the Lombards from 774, and became Emperor of what is now called the Carolingian Empire in 800. He united most of Western and Central Europe and was the first emperor to rule from the west after the fall of the Western Roman Empire about three hundred years earlier.

Charlemagne was born on April 2, 748, and he died on January 28, 814. He was the son of Pepin the Short and Bertrada of Laon. After his father died, Charlemagne and his brother Carloman I became kings of the Franks. When his brother died, Charlemagne became the sole ruler.

During his time as king and emperor, Charlemagne made many changes that helped shape Europe for centuries. He expanded his rule by conquering places like Bavaria, Saxony, and northern Spain. He also spread Christianity in these areas. In 800, he was crowned emperor in Rome by Pope Leo III, which made him very important and powerful. His reign led to a time of learning and culture called the Carolingian Renaissance.

Charlemagne was buried in Aachen, which was his capital city. Because of his big influence on Europe during the Middle Ages, many people call him the "Father of Europe." Several European royal families trace their beginnings back to him, and he has been a popular subject for art, monuments, and literature for a very long time.

Name

Charlemagne was known by different names depending on the language. In Early Old French, he was called Karlo, and in Medieval Latin, he was called Carolus or Karolus. The name "Charles" in English comes from these older forms. The name "Charlemagne" means "Charles the Great" in French. In German, he is called Karl der Große, and in Dutch, Karel de Grote. The word "magnus," meaning "great," was used with his name in Latin writings, though it is not certain if people called him that during his lifetime. His name influenced Slavic languages, where words like korol' in Russian, król in Polish, and král in Slovak mean "king."

Early life and rise to power

The Frankish people, a Germanic tribe, had converted to Christianity by the 6th century, mainly through King Clovis I. They built a kingdom in Gaul after the Western Roman Empire fell. This kingdom, called Francia, grew to include parts of modern-day France, Switzerland, Germany, and the Low Countries. It was ruled by the Merovingian dynasty but often split among different kings.

Charlemagne was likely born in 748, though some older sources suggest 742. He became king of the Franks after his father, Pepin the Short, and ruled together with his brother Carloman for a time. When Carloman died in 771, Charlemagne became the sole ruler. He worked to strengthen his rule by gaining support from local leaders and the church. Charlemagne's early life included learning about leadership and military matters, and he spoke several languages, including a Germanic dialect, Latin, and possibly some Greek.

King of the Franks and the Lombards

Charlemagne became King of the Franks in 768 and worked to unite much of Western and Central Europe. One of his first actions was to fight against the Saxons, who had been raiding Frankish lands. He destroyed a sacred Saxon symbol called the Irminsul and took their treasures.

Charlemagne also responded to a request from Pope Adrian I to help protect papal lands. He crossed the Alps and besieged the Lombard capital of Pavia. After the Lombards surrendered in 774, Charlemagne became King of the Lombards, adding their lands to his growing kingdom. He secured support from local leaders and took the Lombard treasury back to Francia.

Reign as emperor

Coronation

In 795, Pope Leo III faced political troubles and sought help from Charlemagne. Charlemagne met Leo and helped restore his position. On Christmas Day in 800, Leo crowned Charlemagne as "emperor of the Romans," making him the first western emperor since the fall of the Roman Empire in 476. This event marked a new era in European history.

Governing the empire

After becoming emperor, Charlemagne focused on governing his large empire from his capital in Aachen. He created laws to guide his officials and required loyalty oaths from his people. Charlemagne also ruled some areas through his sons, who acted as kings under his supervision. In 806, he made plans for how his empire would be divided among his sons after his death.

Conflict and diplomacy with the east

Charlemagne worked to gain recognition from the eastern Byzantine Empire for his new imperial title. He also built friendships with leaders far away, like the Abbasid caliph Harun al-Rashid, who sent him gifts including an elephant. These diplomatic efforts helped protect Christian communities in distant lands.

Wars with the Danes

Charlemagne faced challenges from the Danes, who raided his lands. After several attempts at peace talks, a Danish king was murdered, and his successor made peace with Charlemagne. Though the Danes no longer threatened the empire, these events later contributed to Viking raids in Europe.

Final years and death

Charlemagne faced personal losses in his later years as several family members passed away. In 813, he crowned his son Louis as co-emperor. Charlemagne became ill in 813 and passed away on January 28, 814. He was buried in Aachen, where his tomb remains a significant historical site.

Main article: Coronation of Charlemagne
Main articles: Administration of Charlemagne, Charlemagne and the Church

Legacy

Charlemagne’s rule had a lasting effect on Europe. After his death, his empire was divided among his sons, leading to the formation of Western and Eastern kingdoms that would later become France and Germany. His political structures and ideas continued to influence European rulers for centuries.

Charlemagne also sparked a cultural revival known as the Carolingian Renaissance. He encouraged learning and education, bringing scholars to his court and supporting schools. This revival helped preserve and spread knowledge through carefully copied manuscripts, and it standardized Latin, which remained important in Europe for many years.

Wives, concubines, and children

Further information: Carolingian dynasty

Charlemagne had at least 20 children with his wives and other partners. After his wife Luitgard passed away in 800, he did not marry again but continued to have children with unmarried partners. He believed that all his children, including his daughters, should learn about the liberal arts. His sons were trained in riding and using weapons, while his daughters learned skills such as embroidery, spinning, and weaving.

Charlemagne kept close watch over his children. His sons Pepin of Italy and Louis grew up to become kings and lived at their own courts. Some of his illegitimate sons were given positions in the church. His daughters either lived at court or at Chelles Abbey, where his sister served as the leader. Although none of his daughters married, some had children with partners who were not officially married.

Appearance and iconography

Further information: Iconography of Charlemagne

Charlemagne was described as a strong and sturdy man. He had a round head, large eyes, a slightly larger nose than usual, and attractive white hair. He enjoyed good health for most of his life.

Charlemagne's tomb was examined by scientists, who estimated his height to be very tall for his time. He wore his hair short and had a moustache, unlike earlier kings who had long hair and beards. Later stories and art often showed him with a beard and longer hair.