Charlemagne (c.742-814), also known as Charles the Great, was an early medieval emperor who came to rule much of Western Europe from 768 to 814. In 771, Charlemagne became the king of the Franks, a predominantly Germanic tribe in present-day Belgium, France, Luxemburg, the Netherlands and western Germany.

The king embarked on a mission to bring together all the Germanic peoples into one kingdom, under the banner of Christianity. His subjects were either forced to convert, or slaughtered for their defiance along with all who opposed him.

Many of Charlemagne’s endeavours revolved around uniting various Germanic tribes into one kingdom. To accomplish this, he spent the majority of his reign engaged in military campaigns and medieval warfare.

It is said that in his bloody, three-decade-long wars, Charlemagne fought against a Germanic tribe of pagan worshipers – the Saxons. It is here that he earned his reputation for ruthlessness, in the Massacre of Verden. The king reportedly ordered the slaughter of some 4,500 Saxons, eventually forcing the remaining tribesmen to bend the knee and convert to Christianity. He subsequently declared anyone who didn’t get baptized or follow other Christian traditions to be put to death.

Being a zealous defender of Christianity, Charlemagne gave money and land to the Christian church and protected the popes. The Church then acknowledged Charlemagne’s power and influence when Pope Leo III crowned him Holy Roman Emperor on December 25, 800 at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

As emperor, Charlemagne proved to be talented in diplomacy, keeping his vast empire under control while also promoting education with particular emphasis on scholarship and culture. With these new-found ideals, he pushed forward the Carolingian Renaissance, instituting economic and religious reforms, and becoming the principle driving force behind the Carolingian miniscule - a standardized form of writing that later became the basis for modern European printed alphabets. It’s no wonder he is often referred to as the father of Europe!

According to the Frankish scholar Einhard, Charlemagne remained in good health right up until the last four years of his life, when he acquired a limp and often suffered from fevers. After his death, his son Louis the Pious took over, only to end up dividing the empire and eventually dissolving it by the late 800s.

Despite this abrupt end, Charlemagne became a legendary figure, endowed with mythical qualities and revered among scholars and academics alike. In many ways, he laid the foundation for Christianity, ensuring its continued existence for thousands of years!

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