Charlemagne: One of the Most Important Figures of Early Medieval Europe

Charlemagne (known also as Charles the Great, as well as Charles I) was a King of the Franks, the first ruler of the Holy Roman Empire (though the term ‘Holy Roman Empire’ would only be coined after Charlemagne’s death), and one of the most important figures in the history of early Medieval Europe.

As King of the Franks, he sought to unite all the Germanic peoples into one kingdom, and to convert his subjects to the Christian faith. Charlemagne’s preferred method for achieving these goals was through conquest. Thus, during the early part of Charlemagne’s reign, numerous military campaigns were carried out to expand his realm.

Charlemagne receiving the submission of Widukind at Paderborn in 785, by Ary Scheffer (1795–1858), Palace of Versailles. (Public Domain)

One of Charlemagne’s greatest political achievements may be said to be his crowning as ‘Emperor of the Romans’ on Christmas day 800 AD by Pope Leo III. The significance of this event was the revival of the notion of the Western Roman Emperor, a role that has been vacant since the fall of the Western Roman Empire.