King Of The Franks CHARLEMAGNE

   Another name for Charlemagne was Emperor Of The WEST.

  General Notes:

Charlemagne means "Charles The Great". He is also known as Charles I, Charles le Grand (French), Carolus Magnus (Latin), Karl der Grosse (German), Karoli Magni, Charles I of the Holy Roman Emprie and Charles I of France.

After Pepin III "The Short", King of the Franks, died in 768, his sons, Charlemagne and Carloman, ruled his empire together until Carloman died three years later and Charlemagne became sole ruler. Charlemagne's empire was extensive and included all of France and Belgium, most of the Netherlands, and parts of Germany and Austria. He eventually expanded his empire to include parts of Italy, Spain, and Saxony. Charlemagne first invaded Saxony in 772, although it took him 32 years to completely conquer the Saxons and bring them under his control. In 773 Pope Adrian I asked Charlemagne for his help in fighting against the Lombards. Charlemagne defeated Desiderius, King of the Lombards, and Charlemagne became their king. He also invaded northern Spain, which was under control of the Moors, and later secured Navarre and the part of Spain known as the Spanish March.

In 799 Charlemagne again came to the aid of another Pope. Pope Leo III was threatened by a rebellion in Rome which Charlemagne brought under control. Charlemagne's close relationship with the Holy See in Rome resulted in Charlemagne's cornonation as the first Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas Day 800.

Although Charlemagne was a fierce warrior and loved war, hunting and other physical actvities, he was exceptional for his time in his understanding of the value of education for himself and the people. He had a strong influence on scholars and in educational pursuits including the arts and literature. He also displayed a sense of Christian duty. Charlemagne's reign saw the standardization of weights and measures, the consturction of roads and bridges, and legal and judicial reforms. Charlemagne died in 814 from pleurisy. His vast empire, which he had expanded and ruled by his own will, would soon become weakened by invasions, the developing feudal system, and his heirs and descendants who divided the empire among themselves as they fought each other for control.

CHARLEMAGNE: Emperor of "the west" and King of France. Said to have had nine wives, including Hameltrude, Desiderata (dvcd); Hildegarde (d. bef. him); Fastrade the Saxon; Liutgarde the German; Maltegarde; Gersunde, a Saxon; Regina; and Adalinda. Charlemagne's actual birthplace is unknown.
Charles of the Franks, better known as Charlemagne or Charles the Magnificent/the Great, ruled the Frankish Kingdom which became known as Carolingia between 768-814. After the death of his father, Pepin in 768, Charles or Charlemagne became King of the western Franks. After the death of his brother, Carloman, Charlemagne ruled over all the Franks in 771. It was at this time he married Hildegarde of Swabia.

When Pepin III the Short, the father of Charles (aka Charlemagne) died in 768, Charles was given those lands of northern France known as northern Aquitaine; Austrasia; and Neustria to rule. He was joint ruler of the Frankish Kingdom then with his brother, Carloman II. When Carloman II died in 771, Charles or Charlemagne then ruled all of the Frankish Kingdom alone until 814.

Charles, Duke of Burgundy, ruled the kingdom of Carolingia (successor to the Merovingian or Frankish kingdom) from 768-771 sharing it with his brother, Carolman. He then conquered most of Europe, and became known as Charlemagne from 771 to 800.

Charlemagne was crowned head of the western Roman Empire at Rome on Christmas Day. His coronation was not recognized by the Empress Irene of the Eastern Roman Empire. He was first of the Carolingian Emperors to rule what later became known as Imperial Germany.

During the battle at Verdun in 782, Charlemagne executed 4,500 hostages and isssued his "Capitulation de partibus Saxoniae" (Capitulation of Saxony).

The Emperor Charlemagne built his cathedral at Aachen between 793-804. Also known as Aix-la-chapelle, site of Roman baths from the 1st century, became the second capitalof the empire of Charlemagne after 768. The center of Carolingian culture.Located in the Rhine Province (later of
Prussia), westr/southwest of Cologne,family railroad junction; trade center; tourist resort; and famous for it's mineral springs and baths.

The Emperor Charlemagne led an expedition in to northeastern Spain to fight the Arabic Kingdom of Ommiad Emirate of Cordova. This campaign not historically important except for the death at Roncesvalles of his paladin which gave rise to the medieval literature (regarding the matter of France and/or the Carlovingian cycle) including the Chanson de Roland (Son of Roland).

The Avars, a nomadic tribe of Mongolian or turkish origina established themselves in the Roman provinces of Dacia and Pannonia. Under their ruthless khan, Baian, they built an empire of slavs and Bulgars that stretched from the Baltic to the Black Sea. By the end of the 8th century the Avar power had decayed, and Charlemagne was able to defeat them and take their settlements which kept the treasures plundered from all of central Europe (791-796 and again in 804).

During his attempt to conquer Spain, Charlemagne's rear guard was annihilated by the Basques at Roncesvalles in the Pyrenees in 778. It was here the paladin Roland was killed. Between the years 773-774 Charlemagne conquered then destroyed the Kingdom of Lombardy, having himself crowned King of the Lombards in 773.

Upon the death of Geroud of Lombardy in774, aka King Desiderious, the King of the Franks Charlemagne then absorbed Lombardy into his Kingdom, repudiated his marriage to Geroud's daughter Hildegarde, and established his rule in Venetia, Istria, Dalmatia, and Corsica, all states within Italy.

Charlemagne invaded Moorish Spain, but is checked in his progress at Saragossa where the Moors put up a heroic defense. Charlemagne went to Rome, the first Frankish King to visit and confirmed the "Donation of Pepin) of the papal lands to the Pope.

Responsible for the addition of the filoque clause to the Nicene Creed.

Charlemagne married GERSVIND. (GERSVIND was born about 750.)

Charlemagne next married HIMILTUDE about 768. (HIMILTUDE was born about 746 in Aachen, Rhineland, Prussia.)

Charlemagne next married Hildegarde DE VINTZGAU, daughter of Gerold DE VINTZGAU and Imma D'ALEMANIE, in 771 in Aix-Lu-Chapelle. (Hildegarde DE VINTZGAU was born in 758 and died on 30 Apr 783 in Metz, France.)

Charlemagne next married FASTRADA in 783. (FASTRADA was born about 760.)

Charlemagne next married REGINA about 800. (REGINA was born about 770 in Aachen, Rhineland, Prussia.)

Charlemagne next married MADELGARD. (MADELGARD was born about 780.)