Charlemagne

In 732, Charles Martel led the Frankish forces to victory against the Arab invaders at the Battle of Tours, also known as the Battle of Poitiers. This battle is considered a turning point in European history as it halted the Muslim advance into Western Europe.

Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, was born in Aachen to Pepin the Short and Bertrada of Laon.

Charles the Great, also known as Charlemagne, was born on April 2, 742. He was a significant figure in European history, known for his military conquests and role in the Carolingian dynasty.

Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, was born on April 2, 747. He later became the Carolingian Emperor of Europe and played a significant role in shaping the history of the region.

Charlemagne, the first-born son of Pepin the Short and his wife Bertada, was born in 748.

In 751, with papal approval, Charlemagne's father, Pippin III, took control of the Frankish throne from the last Merovingian king, Childeric III. This event marked a significant shift in power dynamics within the Frankish kingdom.

Pepin the Short becomes king by overthrowing the Merovingian king and seizing the throne.

In 756, Pippin III made a significant donation to the papacy, granting a block of territory in central Italy. This donation, known as the Donation of Pippin, laid the foundation for the creation of the Papal States.

In 760, Charlemagne started issuing official documents in his own name, signifying his increasing authority and power.

Upon Pepin's death, the Francia kingdom was divided between his two sons, Carloman I and Charlemagne, resulting in a dual kingship.

On September 24, 768, Pepin died during a campaign in Aquitaine, leading to Charlemagne and Carloman succeeding their father as joint rulers.

On October 9, 768, Charlemagne was crowned at Noyon and Carloman at Soissons, signifying their joint rule over the Frankish kingdom.

In 770, Charlemagne marries Desiderata, the daughter of Lombard King Desiderius. This marriage raised concerns for the Pope and Charlemagne's brother due to the political implications.

After Carloman I's death under unknown circumstances, Charlemagne becomes the sole ruler of the Frankish kingdom.

On December 4, 771, Carloman passed away suddenly, leaving Charlemagne as the sole ruler of the Franks.

Charlemagne successfully launches the first raid on the Saxons, initiating a thirty-year campaign to convert pagan tribes to Christianity.

In 773, Charlemagne invaded Italy to remove King Desiderius from the Lombardy throne and took control of the kingdom for himself.

Charlemagne conquers Lombardy and ascends to the throne as the King of the Lombards.

In June 774, disease struck the besieged Lombards, leading to their surrender of the city of Pavia. Charlemagne deposed Desiderius and took the title of King of the Lombards for himself.

In 775, Charlemagne began new attacks against the Saxons and their leader Widukind.

In 776, Charlemagne waged a brief but destructive campaign against the Saxons, leading to their submission and conversion to Christianity.

In 777, Zaragoza extended an invitation to Charlemagne to enter Spain, marking a significant diplomatic gesture.

In 778, Charlemagne faced his only defeat as his rearguard was destroyed during the retreat from Spain in the Battle of Roncesvalles.

In 779, Charlemagne sent an army to Saxony to counter raids by the Saxons. He also held assemblies, legislated, and addressed a famine in Francia.

Hildegard, wife of Charlemagne, died on April 30, 783, due to complications from childbirth. Charlemagne commissioned epitaphs for both his wife and daughter, and arranged for daily masses at Hildegard's tomb.

In 782, Charlemagne ordered the beheading of 4,500 Saxon prisoners in what is known as the Massacre of Verden. This event was a significant stain on Charlemagne's reputation.

In 783, the city of Zaragoza extended an invitation to Charlemagne, the Frankish king, to intervene in the affairs of Spain.

Hildegarde dies in childbirth on April 30, 783. This event marked a significant loss for Charlemagne.

Charlemagne's mother, Bertrada, passed away shortly after the death of Hildegard, on July 12, 783.

By 785, Charlemagne had successfully suppressed the Saxon resistance and gained complete control of Westphalia. He met Widukind, who agreed to be baptized, marking the end of this phase of the Saxon Wars.

In 786, Charlemagne marched into the Duchy of Benevento in Italy to extend his influence. He accepted the submission of Duke Arechis and met with envoys from Constantinople.

In 787, Charles initiates his educational reform by mandating bishops and abbots to establish schools in proximity to churches and monasteries. This marks the beginning of a significant educational initiative under Charlemagne's reign.

Charlemagne goes on a pilgrimage to Rome while his son Pepin is declared King of Italy. During this time, Charlemagne meets Alcuin who agrees to join his court.

In 789, Charlemagne appointed Charles the Younger to rule over Maine in Neustria, leaving Pepin the Hunchback as his only son without lands. This decision affected the succession and led to internal tensions within Charlemagne's family.

Charlemagne summoned a council at Regensburg in 792 to address the theological controversy over Adoptionism in the Spanish church. The council condemned Adoptionism as a heresy and produced the Libri Carolini in response to the Second Council of Nicea.

In 794, Charlemagne called a council at Frankfurt to confirm the decisions made at the Council of Regensburg regarding Adoptionism and Nicea. The council also addressed various ecclesiastical and administrative matters, including the reform of the Frankish coinage system.

In 795, Pope Hadrian passes away, and Leo III is appointed as the new Pope.

In 796, the construction of the cathedral in Aachen, a significant architectural and religious project, commences.

Charlemagne launches military campaigns against the Avars, leading to the conquest of their empire which includes present-day Austria and Hungary.

After assisting Pope Leo III, Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas Day in a grand ceremony at Saint Peter's Basilica. Pope Leo III presented Charles with a gold crown.

In 801, Charlemagne's son Louis led campaigns against the Emirate of Cordoba, resulting in the capture of Barcelona and significant expansion of the Spanish March counties.

The Capitulare missorum generale issued in 802 reformed the institution of royal officials and required loyalty oaths from free men, enhancing Charlemagne's governance and control over his empire.

After a war lasting over 30 years, Charlemagne finally defeats the Saxons, expanding his empire even further.

The 806 charter Divisio Regnorum set the terms of Charlemagne's succession, dividing his empire among his sons and ensuring peace among his descendants.

In 807, a peace treaty was signed between the Frankish king Charlemagne and the Byzantine emperor Nikephoros I, aiming to establish peace and diplomatic relations between the two powerful rulers.

Charlemagne summoned a council at Aachen in 809 to address the dispute over the recitation of the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, defending the use of filioque. Pope Leo affirmed the text of the creed omitting the phrase.

In 810, Charlemagne sent envoys to Constantinople to make peace with the Byzantine Empire, giving up his claims to Veneto. This marked a significant diplomatic achievement in his relations with the East.

After deteriorating relations with Baghdad following Harun's death, Charlemagne engaged in negotiations with Constantinople that led to peace with Michael in 811.

Byzantine emperor, Michael I, officially acknowledges Charlemagne as an emperor, although not as a 'Roman' emperor, solidifying the power Charles already held.

Charles entrusts regal power to Louis, his final surviving legitimate son, passing on the responsibilities of the empire.

In a ceremony on 11 September 813, Charlemagne formally crowned his son Louis as his co-emperor, solidifying the succession within the Carolingian dynasty.

Charlemagne passes away due to old age, leading to the succession of his son, Louis the Pious, to the throne.

After the death of Louis the Pious, the Treaty of Verdun divided the Carolingian Empire among his sons into West, East, and Middle Francia, marking the beginning of the end of Carolingian unity.

The Latin poem Visio Karoli Magni, written around 865, uses facts from Einhard's work to create a visionary tale of Charlemagne's meeting with a prophetic spectre in a dream.

Otto the Great, King of East Francia, was crowned Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in 962, establishing a new imperial line and the beginning of the Holy Roman Empire.

Emperor Otto II made an attempt to have Charlemagne declared a saint in the year 1000, showing the reverence and importance placed on Charlemagne in medieval Europe.

In 1165, Frederick Barbarossa persuaded Antipope Paschal III to raise Charlemagne to the status of a saint, although this act was not recognized by the Holy See in Rome.

The sword known as La Joyeuse, believed to be Charlemagne's sword, has been used in coronations since 1270. It remains a symbol of power and authority.

The Holy Roman Empire, founded by Otto the Great in 962, lasted as an institution until its dissolution in 1806, marking the end of a significant political entity in Europe.

In 1861, Charlemagne's tomb was opened by scientists, who reconstructed his skeleton and measured it at 1.92 metres (6 ft 4 in) in length.

The city of Aachen established the Karlspreis der Stadt Aachen in 1949, an international prize awarded annually to individuals who promote the idea of European unity in honor of Charlemagne.

A 2010 estimate of Charlemagne's height from an X-ray and CT scan of his tibia was 1.84 metres (6 ft 0 in), putting him in the 99th percentile of height for his period.

In 2014, researchers confirmed that the skull and bones in Aachen belonged to Charlemagne. The examination revealed characteristics matching historical descriptions of Charlemagne.