Charlemagne was born in 742 CE and became King of the Franks in 768.
He expanded his empire to include modern-day France, Germany, Italy, and beyond.
In 800 CE, Pope Leo III crowned him the first Holy Roman Emperor in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Charlemagne valued education and established schools, earning him the title "Father of Europe."
He could not write himself, but he promoted literacy and learning for others.
His palace school at Aachen attracted scholars from all over Europe.
Charlemagne standardized weights, measures, and currency to promote trade across his empire.
He enforced Christianity, converting conquered peoples and uniting his empire under one faith.
The Carolingian Renaissance, a cultural revival, thrived during his reign.
Charlemagne introduced reforms in governance, dividing his empire into regions governed by counts.
His military campaigns included battles against the Saxons, Lombards, and Moors.
He created a network of roads to improve communication and administration across his empire.
Charlemagne was over six feet tall, a remarkable height for his time.
His empire fractured after his death in 814, but his influence endured for centuries.
Today, Charlemagne is celebrated as a unifier and visionary leader who shaped Europe’s destiny.
