Charlemagne Emperor of HOLYROMAN EMPIRE, EMPERIOR OF WEST

                   Charlemagne was king of the Franks from a.d. 768-814 and Emperior of the
Romans from 800-814.He became a key figure in development of Western Europe's
medieval civilization. By his lmost constant military campaigns, Charlemagne
created a vast empire in the West.  He was the first Germanic ruler to assume
the title of emperor. Charlemagne was the son of Pepin the Short, and the
grandson of Charles Martel. From 768-771 Charlemagne shared Pepin's kingdom
with his brother, Carloman. When Carloman died, Charlemagne became the sole
ruler. He gained wide acclaim for his outstanding military ability, persistence
and success. He waged more than 59 campaigns against neighboring Germanic
peoples on all sides.His greatest war was against the Lombards. In conquring
them he bacame ruler of the Lonbard kingdom in Italy.Charlemagne had built a
vast & spraling state.He was much more powerful than Constantine, and ruled
a much more extensive area.Pope Leo III placed the imperial crown on Charle-
meign'a head on Christmas Day, 800.He was described as large & strong in body,
fond of active exercise & moderate in his way of life.Charlemagne clearly
recognized his duties and was a tireless worker.His administration methods
raised the standard of living. He was a patron of culture & extender of
civilization.The Palace School, set up at the capital stimilated interest in
education, philosphy, & literature.Most of the scholers were churchmen so it
greatly strengthened the church and had far reaching and lasting results. In
this way, Charlemagne, by means of his power & eminence, gave western Europe
a unified culture so strong that is survived the terrible invasions & disorders
of the next 200 years.
Charlemagne has been described by his first biographer, Einhard, who knew
him only in later life, as tall, white haired, inclined to stoutness but
well porportuned, with a high-pitched voice that seemed inappropriate to
his large frame.  He tended to unxoriousness, and married many times; he
enjoyed being surrounded by a large company of family and friends, and
never permitted his daughter to marry, saying that he could not spare them--
although he genially tolerated illicit unions on their part, so long as
they remained at home.  Passionately fond of hunting, he was also an un-
usually good swimmer and built a great pool at Aachen in which he could
swim with all his court.  But he also liked the give and take of a witty
circle, exchanged poems and teasing queries with his courtiers, and took
a great interest in astronomical problems and observations.  Until the last
years of his life he enjoyed good health, and in fact went on a long hunting
and camping trip shortly before his death.
Charlemagne's last years were marked by tragedies: his failure to win recog-
nition from the Byzantine Emperor; renewed attacks by the Danes upon the
northern outpost of his empire; and the deaths, all within a short time of
his wife, his sister, and his sons Pepin and Charles. Thus the succession
devolved upon the weakent of his sons, Louis of Acquitaine, afterwards
known as Louis the Pious.