Charlemagne stands as the towering figure who united Western Europe after the fall of Rome. While history books praise his military conquests and religious devotion, his personal life contained many strange habits. For instance, the most powerful man in the world could barely write his own name. Furthermore, he owned a massive white elephant that followed him on his travels. Prepare to bow before the King of the Franks.
Charlemagne
He was illiterate for most of his life. Although he spoke multiple languages and loved books, he never fully mastered the art of writing. Therefore, he kept wax tablets under his pillow to practice his letters during the night.
He received a pet elephant as a gift. The Caliph of Baghdad, Harun al-Rashid, sent him an Asian elephant named Abul-Abbas. Consequently, the massive beast lived in Germany for years and even joined the emperor on military campaigns.
He refused to let his daughters marry. He loved his daughters so much that he could not bear to part with them. However, he allowed them to have long-term boyfriends and even illegitimate children while they lived in his palace.
The Pope crowned him by surprise on Christmas Day. In the year 800, Pope Leo III placed a crown on his head while he prayed in Rome. According to his biographer, Charlemagne was initially annoyed because he did not want to owe his title to the church.
He is the “King of Hearts” in a deck of cards. French card makers assigned specific historical figures to the face cards in the 16th century. Thus, the King of Hearts represents Charlemagne, while the King of Diamonds represents Julius Caesar.
He ordered the beheading of 4,500 prisoners in one day. During the Massacre of Verden, he executed thousands of Saxon rebels who refused to convert to Christianity. This brutal act remains a dark stain on his legacy as a religious leader.
He stood significantly taller than the average man. Archaeologists estimated his height at around six feet four inches. Therefore, he literally towered over his subjects at a time when most men were much shorter.
He standardized the way we write today. His scholars created a script called “Carolingian minuscule” to make copying books easier. As a result, this clear style introduced the use of lowercase letters and spaces between words.
He hated wearing fancy royal clothing. Instead of gold robes, he preferred the simple dress of the common Frankish people. He usually wore a linen shirt, simple trousers, and a vest made of otter skins to keep warm.
He was buried sitting up on a throne. When Emperor Otto III opened the tomb centuries later, he allegedly found Charlemagne’s body seated in a chair. Furthermore, the skeleton held a scepter and wore a crown, as if he were still ruling from beyond the grave.
He had at least eighteen children with multiple wives. The emperor married four times and had several concubines throughout his life. Consequently, his large family ensured that his bloodline spread across the entire continent of Europe.
He loved swimming in natural hot springs. He built his palace at Aachen specifically because of the thermal waters there. In fact, he often invited his sons, nobles, and even bodyguards to swim with him in the massive pool.
He suffered from a speech impediment. Some historical sources suggest that the great orator had a high-pitched voice. Despite his massive physical presence, his voice did not match his intimidating stature.
He wept when he first saw Viking ships. Legend says he looked out a window and saw Norse longships raiding the coast. He began to cry because he predicted the misery these raiders would bring to his descendants.
Finally, his name literally means “Charles the Great.” The Latin name “Carolus Magnus” eventually morphed into the French “Charlemagne.” Thus, his greatness is forever locked into the very name we use to identify him.
