Charlemagne
742–814
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Charlemagne ruled the outer parts of his native country following the passing of his father, Pepin the Short, but it was not until the death of his brother, Carloman II, that he became sole sovereign of France. As king, Charlemagne was a devout Catholic. He battled on the side of the papacy when Lombardian king Desiderius took over several Italian cities and attempted to siege Rome. Driving the Lombards back to Pavia, he then attacked their city. After surrendering, Desiderius was sent to an abbey in Corbie, and Charlemagne was made king of the Lombards in Italy, a position he later passed on to his son.
After this victory, Charlemagne went back to battle on both the Eastern and Western fronts, which extended from the Pyrenees mountains to the Danube river. He waged several wars against the Spanish Moors, who forced attacked his rear guard, led by the famous Roland at the Battle of Roncevaux Pass. When not holding back the Saracens of Spain, Charlemagne fought the Saxons, the great pagan kingdom to his east. The Saxon Wars were fought over thirty years and Charlemagne encountered them in at least eighteen major battles. He defeated them several times, converting the people to Christianity and integrating much of Northern Germany into his ever-expanding kingdom, but the Saxons continued to fight for their independence until 804, when their final rebellion was crushed.
Charlemagne also fought off an invasion of the Asian Huns, who attacked several Italian cities but were forced into submission by his son, after which they presented themselves before Charlemagne as vassals and Christians. Charles later aided another pope, Leo III, who had been mistreated by the Romans and subsequently fled from the Vatican. Charles restored him to power, and in return, Leo crowned him Holy Roman Emperor. He ruled for several more years before passing away from a lung infection. His only surviving son, Louis the Pious, succeeded him over a kingdom that expanded
Key events during the life of Charlemagne:
| Born | |
| Death of Pepin the Short, became king in joint with his brother | |
| Death of Charlemagne's brother, Carloman II | |
| Saved Pope Hadrian I from Lombardian attackers | |
| Start of the Saxon Wars | |
| Set out for Spain to offer military support but was forced by the Moors to retreat | |
| Huns invaded Italian cities of Friuli and Bavaria but were forced to retreat | |
| Barcelona fell to France during the Wars with the Muslims | |
| Crowned Emperor of the Romans by Pope Leo III | |
| Defeated Saxony | |
| Died of pleurisy |
| Book Links |
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Other Resources
Image Links | ||
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 Charlemagne in Stories from German History |
 The Coronation of Charlemagne in Stories from German History |
 Stretched out a hand which this chief of the old heaths and woods grasped with a proud smile in A Child's Book of Warriors |
 Ralph in the Palace of Charlemagne in Stories of Charlemagne |
 The Ambassadors of King Marsilas in Stories of Charlemagne |
 Statue of Charlemagne in France: Peeps at History |
 Coronation of Charlemagne in The Story of Old France |
 The pope crowning Charlemagne in Famous Men of the Middle Ages |
 Charlemagne in Famous Men of the Middle Ages |
 The presents form Harun-al-Rashid in Famous Men of the Middle Ages |
Charlemagne: This shows him as after ages thought of him in The Story of the Middle Ages |
 Charlemagne in Saints and Heroes to the End of the Middle Ages |
 The Coronation of Charlemagne at Rome in Greatest Nations - Germany |
 Charlemagne Presiding over the Palace School in Greatest Nations - Germany |
Charlemagne in Back Matter |
Charlemagne at Witikind's Baptism in Back Matter |
 Charlemagne in Back Matter |
 Charlemagne in Barbarian and Noble |
 Charlemagne in Barbarian and Noble |
 Charlemagne in Barbarian and Noble |
 So the twain are there dubbed knight, Courteous and brave and of great might in Page, Esquire, and Knight |
 The Emperor sits in an orchard wide, Roland and Oliver by his side in Page, Esquire, and Knight |
 I hate thee,' hissed Ganelon in Stories of Roland |
 The coronation of Charlemagne in Historical Tales: French |
 Charlemagne in History of the Church: Early Middle Ages |
 Charlemagne saw the Viking sails. in The Discovery of New Worlds |
 Coronation of Charlemagne in European Hero Stories |
 Charlemagne in European Hero Stories |
 Wittekind's Submission. in Charlemagne |
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| Pepin the Short | King of the Franks. Son of Charles Martel. Father of Charlemagne. |
| Roland | Nephew of Charlemagne and legendary hero of his wars. Died at Roncesvalles. |
| Wittekind | Leader of Saxon resistance to Charlemagne. After years of struggle, converted to Christianity. |
| Louis the Pious | Son of Charlemagne and king of Franks. On his death his three sons divided the kingdom between them. |
| Bernardo del Carpio | Legendary Spanish hero during the era of Charlemagne who battled both Moors and Franks. |