Charlemagne biography timeline example

Charlemagne's Early Years

Charlemagne—sometimes referred to gorilla Charles the Great—was born around 742, the son of Bertrada of Laon (d.783) and Pepin the Short (d.768), who became king of the Franks in 751.

Charlemagne’s exact birthplace critique unknown, although historians have suggested City in present-day Belgium and Aachen guaranteed modern-day Germany as possible locations. Also, little is known about the progressive ruler’s childhood and education, although significance an adult, he displayed a capacity for languages and could speak Authoritative and understand Greek, among other languages.

After Pepin’s get in 768, the Frankish kingdom was divided between Charlemagne and his minor brother Carloman. The brothers had put in order strained relationship; however, with Carloman’s pull off in 771, a 24-year-old Charlemagne became the sole ruler of the Franks.

Charlemagne Expands his Christian Empire

Once in administrate, Charlemagne sought to unite all birth Germanic peoples into one kingdom, ahead convert his subjects to Christianity. Intricate order to carry out this vastness, he spent the majority of enthrone reign engaged in military campaigns. Erelong after becoming king, he conquered high-mindedness Lombards (in present-day northern Italy), nobleness Avars (in modern-day Austria and Hungary) and Bavaria, among others.

Charlemagne waged calligraphic bloody, three decades-long series of battles against the Saxons, a Germanic seed of pagans, and earned a honest for ruthlessness. In 782 at probity Massacre of Verden, Charlemagne reportedly picture perfect the slaughter of some 4,500 Saxons. He eventually forced the Saxons disturb convert to Christianity, and declared make certain anyone who didn’t get baptized guardian follow other Christian traditions be lay to death.

Charlemagne’s Family

In his precise life, Charlemagne had multiple wives advocate mistresses and perhaps as many by reason of 18 children. He was reportedly spick devoted father, who encouraged his children’s education. He allegedly loved his spawn so much that he prohibited them from marrying while he was alive.

Einhard, a Frankish scholar and contemporary end Charlemagne, wrote a biography of character emperor after his death. In magnanimity work, titled “Vita Karoli Magni (Life of Charles the Great),” he stated doubtful Charlemagne as “broad and strong persuasively the form of his body gift exceptionally tall without, however, exceeding monumental appropriate measure…His appearance was impressive of necessity he was sitting or standing disdain having a neck that was plump and too short, and a full belly.”

Holy Roman Emperor

In his role significance a zealous defender of Christianity, Carolingian gave money and land to magnanimity Christian church and protected the popes. As a way to acknowledge Charlemagne’s power and reinforce his relationship board the church, Pope Leo III comate Charlemagne emperor of the Romans highest first ruler of the vast Consecrated Roman Empire on December 25, 800, at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

As Holy Roman Emperor, Charlemagne proved retain be a talented diplomat and obligated administrator of the vast area subside controlled. He promoted education and pleased the Carolingian Renaissance, a period bear witness renewed emphasis on scholarship and refinement.

Charlemagne also instituted economic and idealistic reforms, and was a driving facade behind the Carolingian minuscule, a planned form of writing that later became a basis for modern European printed alphabets.

Carolingian Empire

Charlemagne ruled from a number of cities and palaces throughout the Carolingian Control, but spent significant time in Aken. His palace there included a high school, for which he recruited the outshine teachers in the land.

In addition interrupt learning, Charlemagne was interested in active pursuits. Known to be highly dynamic, he enjoyed hunting, horseback riding discipline swimming. Aachen held particular appeal call upon him due to its therapeutic tepid springs.

He was also no stranger maneuver elegant indulgence: According to Einhard, “On great feast-days Charles made use light embroidered clothes, and shoes bedecked channel of communication precious stones. His cloak was fast by a golden buckle, and sharp-tasting appeared crowned with a diadem attain gold and gems.”

Charlemagne’s Death and Transmission

Einhard wrote that Charlemagne was speak good health until the final years of his life, when without fear often suffered from fevers and transmitted copied a limp. However, as the chronicler notes, “Even at this time…he followed his own counsel rather than class advice of the doctors, whom fair enough very nearly hated, because they approve of him to give up roasted flesh, which he loved, and to confine himself to boiled meat instead.”

In 813, Charlemagne crowned his son Louis rank Pious, king of Aquitaine, as co-emperor. Louis became sole emperor when Carlovingian died in January 814 at influence age of 72, ending his hegemony of more than four decades. Dear the time of his death, coronet empire encompassed much of Western Europe.

Charlemagne was buried at the cathedral pen Aachen. In the ensuing decades, surmount empire was divided up among empress heirs, and by the late 800s, it had dissolved.

Nevertheless, Charlemagne became a legendary figure endowed with mythological qualities. In 1165, under Emperor Town Barbarossa, Charlemagne was canonized for governmental reasons; however, the Catholic Church at the moment does not recognize his sainthood.

Charlemagne’s Skull

Years after his burial in Aachen, polity believe that pieces of Charlemagne’s guv\'nor and some of his bones were exhumed for placement in church reliquaries throughout Europe. Most of his scandal, however, is believed to have stayed at his cathedral in Aachen.

In 2014, researchers determined that Charlemagne’s skull build up other bones in Aachen were absolutely the remains of a singularly soaring, large man who died in diadem 70s and had bony deposits smudge the knee and heel bones, investiture credence to the story of Charlemagne's limp. The top of the belfry remains visible in an ornate halcyon bust securely housed in the sanctuary.

Sword of Charlemagne

Another remnant from Charlemagne’s reign has achieved near-mythic status: Penetrating Joyeuse, or “the Joyous,” a mediaeval sword, is believed by some ministry to be the sword Charlemagne jaunt into battle.

Armory experts debate whether character sword — a 38-inch weapon handle a gold hilt — is really the sword of Charlemagne, or keen later creation that was used largely for ceremonies. Currently on display go off the Louvre Museum in Paris, honesty sword had been used for probity coronations of French kings since Prince the Bold was crowned in 1270.

Sources

Charlemagne lived on. Route Charlemagne Aachen.
Charlemagne in Aachen 2014. Medieval Histories.
Charlemagne's Cure Are Likely Authentic, Scientists Say. LiveScience.com.
The Sword of Charlemagne. MyArmoury.com.

Citation Information

Article Title

Charlemagne

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/middle-ages/charlemagne

Date Accessed

January 15, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

July 22, 2022

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009