Charlemagne

Lore & Background

Charlemagne was the eldest son of Pepin the Short and Bertrada of Laon. He became king of the Franks in 768 following Pepin's death, ruling jointly with his brother Carloman I until becoming sole ruler three years later. He continued his father's policy of protecting the papacy, removing the Lombards from power in northern Italy in 774. His reign saw expansion through conquests of Bavaria, Saxony, and northern Spain, and he spread Christianity to new territories, as seen at the Massacre of Verden against the Saxons. He also initiated diplomatic contact with the Abbasid caliph Harun al-Rashid in the 790s due to mutual interest in Iberian affairs.

In 800, Charlemagne was crowned emperor in Rome by Pope Leo III. The title represented the height of his prestige and authority, though historians debate its significance. His assumption of the imperial title brought him into conflict with the Eastern Roman Empire in Constantinople and made him the forerunner to the line of Holy Roman Emperors, which persisted into the 19th century. As king and emperor, he engaged in numerous reforms in administration, law, education, military organisation, and religion, which shaped Europe for centuries. The stability of his reign began a period of cultural activity known as the Carolingian Renaissance.

Charlemagne died in 814 and was buried at the Palatine Chapel (now part of Aachen Cathedral) in Aachen, his imperial capital city. He was known as Karlo to Early Old French speakers, Carolus in Medieval Latin, and Charles in modern English. The name Charlemagne comes from the French Charles-le-magne ('Charles the Great'). The Latin epithet magnus may have been associated with him during his lifetime, but this is not certain. His name was adapted by Slavic languages as their word for 'king'.

Reader's Guide

Charlemagne's significance lies in his unification of much of Western and Central Europe and his revival of the imperial title in the West after a gap of about three centuries. His reign established a framework for medieval European politics, culture, and religion. The Carolingian Renaissance, a period of cultural and intellectual activity, began under his rule and influenced education, law, and administration for centuries. His protection of the papacy and his coronation as emperor set a precedent for the relationship between church and state in medieval Europe. Charlemagne is considered a forerunner to the Holy Roman Emperors, a line that lasted into the 19th century. His diplomatic contacts with the Abbasid Caliphate, particularly with Harun al-Rashid, highlight his reach beyond Europe. Many historians call him the 'Father of Europe', and several European states and royal houses trace their lineage back to him. His legacy is reflected in artworks, monuments, and literature from the medieval period onward.

Did You Know?

• Charlemagne's year of birth is uncertain; most scholars now accept 748, but older sources give 742.
• He was the first recognised emperor to rule from the west after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, about three centuries earlier.
• The Slavic word for 'king' (e.g., Russian korol', Polish król) derives from Charlemagne's name or that of his great-grandson Charles the Fat.
• Charlemagne could understand and perhaps speak some Greek, according to his biographer Einhard.

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"Right action is better than knowledge; but in order to do what is right, we must know what is right." — Charlemagne "If only I could have a dozen churchmen as wise and as well taught in all human knowledge as were Jerome and Augustine!" — Charlemagne "It is not lack of self-restraint but care for others which makes me dine in Lent before the hour of evening." — Charlemagne "Quoted in Notker's The Deeds of Charlemagne (translated 2008 by David Ganz). Referring to conspirators against Pope Leo III." — Charlemagne