| Charlemagne (742-814), also known as Carolus | | | | Roman Emperor on Christmas Day 800. |
| Magnus or Charles the Great, was King of the | | | | Interestingly, despite his wars against the Moors in |
| Franks (771-814) and the Western Emperor (or | | | | Spain, Charlemagne was to maintain friendly |
| Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire (800-814). He | | | | relations with Muslim countries in the East. In 798 |
| was also the greatest ruler of the Carolingian | | | | the caliph of Baghdad, Harun al-Rashid, sent |
| Dynasty. | | | | ambassadors to Charlemagne bearing a celebrated |
| When we say that he ruled the Franks, we mean | | | | gift of a white elephant. |
| that he ruled the area that is now France, | | | | Charlemagne's method of governing his empire |
| Belgium, the Netherlands and part of Germany. | | | | was to divide it among his counts and bishops, |
| When we say that he ruled the Holy Roman | | | | who each given both land and the power to |
| Empire, we mean that he ruled France, Belgium, | | | | control the lives of the people who lived on that |
| the Netherlands, all of Germany, and northern | | | | land. These counts and bishops in turn had to |
| Spain. Thus he ended up ruling most of Christian | | | | pledge allegiance to the emperor and fight for him |
| Western Europe. | | | | in battle. This system of government, called |
| During his reigns, Charlemagne was often at war | | | | feudalism, prevailed all over Europe until the time |
| against neighboring Christian kingdoms: he | | | | of the French Revolution. |
| defeated the Saxons (772-804), he subdued and | | | | Charlemagne presided over a revival of learning in |
| was crowned king of the Lombards of northern | | | | his realms, that has often been termed the |
| Italy (773-774) and he fought against the Moors | | | | Carolingian Renaissance. He promoted education, |
| (Arabs) in Spain (778). | | | | architecture, the arts, manufacturing, commerce, |
| In the battles against the Moors at Roncevalles, | | | | better administration and good laws. |
| Spain, one of Charlemagne's warriors, Roland, was | | | | Education was promoted via Latin learning taught |
| killed heroically in battle. This inspired the great | | | | at cathedral and monastic schools. Notable |
| poem, the Chanson de Roland. | | | | architectural achievements included beautiful new |
| Charlemagne spent the remaining years of his | | | | palaces and churches. |
| reigns consolidating his military gains. He founded a | | | | Many of the greatest scholars of the age, such |
| capital and royal court at Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle) | | | | as the Anglo-Saxon, Alcuin of York, were invited |
| in what is now Germany. | | | | to come to Charlemagne's court at Aachen. |
| Charlemagne forced the peoples he conquered to | | | | Liturgical and scriptural texts were purified and |
| become Christians. For example, in 785, he | | | | appeared in new editions. Charlemagne himself |
| prescribed death for any of the Saxons he | | | | knew Latin and Greek and wrote letters and |
| conquered who refused to be baptized. For this | | | | poems that have survived to this day. |
| reason, he gained the support of Pope Leo III, | | | | Charlemagne's life and achievements were |
| who gave him the imperial title of the Holy Roman | | | | renowned in his day and became the subject of |
| Emperor. Charlemagne was crowned as the Holy | | | | legends and literary works. |