Charlemagne
Background
Charlemagne.
Charlemagne or Charles the Great was a powerful ruler of a very large area we now know as Western Europe. He saved Western Europe from near anarchy and chaos. Charlemagne was born around 742 AD and became ruler of the Franks in 768 AD at the age of 26. This was also the year that his father, Pepin The Short, died. Charlemagne was a very large man, six feet four inches tall, which fit the size of his eventual kingdom. Not much is known about his birthplace but historians think he was born in Liege in modern day Belgium. Even though his empire did not last much longer past his death, while he was alive he made a huge impact on the development of Medieval Europe.
The red marker shows the spot of the birthplace of Charlemagne.
Family And Personal Life
Charlemagne and his family.
In his personal life, Charlemagne was very devoted to his large family. He was said to have at least five wives and around 20 children. He loved his kids very much and strongly encouraged their education and religious studies. In fact, he loved his daughters so much, that he forbade them from marrying while he was still alive.
Government
A medieval teacher teaches smart scholars.
Charlemagne was a very organized government leader. For example, he traveled widely to ensure that the laws of his kingdom were being followed. To help Charlemagne with this, he established the postition of count, which is like a modern day governor. The counts were powerful landowners who carried out his laws throughout the kingdom. One of Charlemagne’s most important government achievements was the establishment of trial by panel, which was so important a development that we still use basically the same process today in jury trials. Under this system the accused person would be heard by a group of honorable men who had just taken an oath to be honest and listen to the evidence given from both sides of the case. Charlemagne even had his own signature that he used for signing official papers like newly made laws and royal edicts. Even though Charlemagne couldn’t read, he was a considered a very intelligent man. One of the things that he did to show this was he turned his castle into a learning center. He invited scholars from all over the world there so they could meet and learn more about the world. All in all, even without being able to write, Charlemagne was able to rule a highly unified kingdom with good order.
Military And Religion
A fierce battle between two medieval kingdoms.
Even with his well-run government, Charlemagne was still able to conduct a highly maintained military system and as well as a very dedicated religious society. Charlemagne was a highly religious leader. He was so dedicated to his religion of Christianity that he encouraged, and sometimes forced, conquered people to follow the ways of Christianity. A way that he helped spread this religion was he helped the Roman Catholic Church popes by supplying them with food water and shelter in return for the name of Holy Roman Emperor. Thus, beginning the Holy Roman Empire. Charlemagne was also a very strong military leader with legendary fighters. With the loyalty of the army and his leadership skills, Charlemagne shortly conquered most of the surrounding barbarian tribes in Western Europe. These tribes include the Lombards in Northern Italy, modern day Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Turkey. Miraculously he survived war after war always wearing a bright blue hat over his fur coat, and always being the tallest man on the battlefield.
Death
Charlemagne in his last few days of his long life.
Charlemagne was an accomplished financial, military, governmental, cultural and religious leader, but he couldn’t live forever. Charlemagne died from natural causes (old age) in 814 AD, which ended his 47 year reign. He died in his seventies, which is a very old age for that time period. He most likely stayed alive this long because he had a slight potbelly so he would not starve, and he was also very fond of exercising daily which is good for just about everything for your body. But when he did die, the empire that he ruled and loved for 47 years died with him. Charlemagne appears to be a man of extremes. He was large for the age, a military man, though quite religious, and ironically an educator, yet uneducated himself.
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