Grandson of Charles Martel, son of Pepin the Short, king of the Franks and first and greatest emperor of the Carolingian dynasty, Charles the Great (Charles I) was also known as Charlemagne. He was both king of France and emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Through Charlemagne’s ceaseless military campaigns, dozens of tribes were brought under his rule and his realm was the largest known to the West since the 4th century. In 795, his support of Leo III had won himself the imperial crown, and the position as king of Rome. Having once rescued Pope Leo from attacking enemies, his son Charles was also crowned king of the Franks. Many parts of Charlemagne’s empire indeed came through inheritance and diplomatic negotiations and alliance, but he won many parts by conquest.

Empire of Charlemagne in 814- pink shaded regions.

He invaded Italy in 773 and after three more invasions, confirmed his conquests there. Threatening the later attacking Saxons to be baptized, their acceptance of the Frank’s God brought yet another tribe’s submission to Charlemagne. Expanding the Frankish empire, he controlled the church and German empires. By limiting the power of the nobles, his reign was strengthened. During his reign, Charlemagne introduced the capitulary form of legal promulgation, wrote tribal laws, and greatly encouraged the study of Church law. He started Palatine Academy which taught many clergymen who were later chosen as bishops. Before he died, he crowned one of his three sons Louis the Pious emperor. Louis consequently inherited the entire kingdom after his father’s death. Due to the weak rulers who followed however, Charlemagne’s kingdom crumbled.