Charlemagne

Charles is one of the most famous and well-known characters in European history because Charlemagne's choices is what would later lead to the many countries in modern day Europe. Born in 742, Charlemagne was the greatest king of the medieval times. Also know as Charles the great, Charlemagne was the son of Pepin, and became the King of the Francs in 771 at the young age of 29 after the death of his brother Carloman II. After the death of his father, Charlemagne became the ruler of half of the land that was controlled by his father. The other half of the land was given to his brother Carloman II. Very shortly after his fathers death, Carlman died, and his land was given to his brother Charlemagne. The Frankish Kingdom needed a new king, one that could help the empire grow, and one that would be able to make wise choices for the empire. Without delay, Charlemagne took no chances after the invasion of the papal states by the Lombard named Desiderius and quickly besieged and captured Pavia.

Not only was Charlemagne a great political leader as he was a great Christian leader.

"North of the Alps Charlemagne extends his territory eastwards to include Bavaria, but his main efforts within Germany are directed against the Saxons. The Saxons, restless Germanic tribesmen, have long plagued the settled Frankish territories by raiding from their forest sanctuaries. Charlemagne the emperor is harmed by their depredations; Charlemagne the Christian is outraged by their pagan practices. From 772 he wages ferocious war against them, beginning with the destruction of one of their great shrines and its sacred central feature - the Irminsul or 'pillar of the world', a massive wooden column believed to support the universe. It takes Charlemagne thirty years to subdue the Saxons; not until 804 are they finally transformed into settled Christians within his empire. It has been a brutal process. Charlemagne's method is military conquest followed by forced conversion and the planting of missionary outposts, usually in the form of bishoprics. In his book of rules, the official punishment for refusing to be baptized is death. The chronicles record that on one day some 4500 reluctant Saxons are executed for not worshipping the right god."-(Tuscows)

"Charlemagne intends, in the tradition of the Franks, to divide his territory equally between his sons. But the two eldest die, in 810 and 811, leaving only Louis - who succeeds as sole emperor in 814. His subsequent name, Louis the Pious, reveals a character different from his father's; he is more interested in asserting authority through the medium of church and monastery than on the battlefield. Charlemagne's great empire remains precariously intact for this one reign after his death. Its fragmentation begins when Louis dies, in 840. But the name of Charlemagne in legend and literature remains vigorously alive . "-(Tuscows)