Who Is Charlemagne AKA 'Karl' Or Charles The Great?

Charlemagne AKA “Karl” or “Charles the Great” was an emperor during medieval times who ruled over almost all of western Europe from the age 768 to 814. He was born to Pepin the short and Bertrada (his father and mother in that order). However, his parents were not legally married at the time of his birth, and he was thought to be their illegitimate child, though his parents were married when Charlemagne’s brother Carloman I was Born. In 741 his father had become mayor of the palace and kicked out the last Merovingian and was officially declared king of the franks (the franks were a powerful Germanic tribe that lived in the area of present day France). Little is known about Charlemagne childhood, however we do know that in age 754 he participated

This obviously made the relationship between the two sour. Unexpectedly in 771 Carloman (his brother) died and Charlemagne was left to rule the whole kingdom alone. Charlemagne wanted to expand his kingdom quickly and aggressively, especially in Italy, so he can take out those who pose a threat to him and his authority as a king. He was quick to attack and defeat Desiderius of the Lombards. Shortly after this Charlemagne was crowned king of the Lombards at Patvia. The Frankish conquest of Italy, first of Lombardy to the north and after Benevento to the south. These two conquest brought new wealth to the Franks. While he was executing his Italian operation in 772 Charlemagne attacked Saxon and forced Christianity on Saxon tribes. While on the eastern frontier Charlemagne defeated Tassilo, the duke of Bavaria. To add on to his territory, he added the Bavarian duchy, or territory controlled by the duke. He then divided the duchy into separate countries, each controlled by a count loyal to his rule. A little further to the east their most major threat at the timed was the immense Slavic kingdom of the Avars, or the Huns, AM Asiatic tribe that chose to settle along the upper portion of the Danube

By 800 Charlemagne had succeeded in immensely expanding his empire while still being able to crush his enemies. He ruled all Christianized provinces except for the British Isles, that had once been a part of the Roman empire. As the sworn protector of the church, Charlemagne was the political master of Rome itself. The office of the pope recognized his power and crowned him Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas day on 800. During his reign as emperor Charlemagne attempted to create unity, harmony, and peace with his vast empire and to support laws and promote learning that would achieve his goals of the empire. Charlemagne in contrast to his Merovingian predecessors attempted to create a fixed capital to rival that of Byzantium, and ancient and awe inspiring. In 806 at the age of 64 Charlemagne took some measures so he can provide for the succession of his empire. He divided his empire among his 3 sons, Charles, Pepin, and louis. But the death of Charles in April 10 was soon followed by his brother Pepin. His final son Louis later called “the Pious,” the least warlike and aggressive of the three, was left alone as the single heir to the