Charlemagne

Charlemagne “Charles the Great”, King of France and the Holy Roman Emperor united most of western Europe during his reign and ushered in what is known as the Carolingian Era, a mini renascence, earning him the title of the “Father of Europe”.  

Charlemagne was most likely born in 742, a subject in the Merovingian Kingdom located in modern day France.  When Charlemagne was about 10 years old, his father Pippin III lead a coup in 753 defeating the last Merovingian king, Childeric II.  Pippin placed himself a king.  When Pippin died in 768, his kingdom was divided between his two living sons, Charlemagne and Carloman.   

Charlemagne received the northern areas Austrasia and Neustria that were more difficult to defend but richer in taxes.  The brother Carloman received the southern areas including Aquitaine and Burgundy.  These areas were more secure but the tax revenues were lower.  The brothers did not get along well but their competition was brief as Carloman died of natural causes just 3 years after the death of their father Pippin. 

After Carloman’s death, Charlemagne reunited the kingdom taking away the rights of his brother’s heirs.  Charlemagne went on to conquer even more territories in the north such as Saxony, forcing the conquered Pagan people to become Christians or lose their lives.  (Centuries later, the Nazis propaganda used this to justify their attack on the Catholic Church properties and people.)  In the southeast, Charlemagne came to the rescue of the Vatican and the Pope by defeating the Lombards and conquering Bavaria.  That is when he was coronated as Charlemagne Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire on Christmas Day 800 ad.  Charlemagne even conquered south over the Pyrenees mountain range in the southern part of France to control the Basque area which today is part of modern day Spain.

Charlemagne had at least 5 different wives and more concubines.  He fathered at least 19 children but had only one son survive him, Louis the Pious.  Louis was crowned by his father as co-ruler and served as such for one year before the death of Charlemagne.