Charlemagne was born around 742 CE in Francia. King of the Franks and later emperor, Charlemagne expanded the Frankish kingdom he inherited from his father Pepin the Short to include much of western and central Europe, conquering the Lombards in Italy and the Saxons in Germany. On Christmas Day in the year 800, Pope Leo III crowned him emperor in Rome, reviving the imperial title in the West. He ruled from Aachen and promoted a revival of learning, known as the Carolingian Renaissance, with schools, scribes and a standardised script. He reorganised the administration through counts and royal envoys. His realm broke up under his successors, but he is remembered as a father of Europe.
Before and after
- from 719 CE to 1798Construction of Abbey of Saint Gall
- 721 CEBirth of Jabir ibn Hayyan
- from 722 CE to 1492Reconquista
- c. 723 CEOrigins of Kathmandu
- c. 742 CEBirth of Charlemagne
- from 744 CE to 747 CEThird Fitna
- from 744 CE to 840 CEUyghur Khaganate
- from 750 CE to 1258Abbasid Caliphate
- from 750 CE to 1517Abbasids
More in Wars, politics & history
- from 622 CE to 750 CEMuslim conquests
- 8 June 793 CEVikings raid Lindisfarne
- from 1075 to 1124Investiture controversy
- from 1209 to 1229Albigensian Crusade
- 8 May 1429Joan of Arc relieves Orleans
- 7 June 1494Treaty of Tordesillas
The era
This moment belongs to the Medieval world (500 CE to 1500 CE), kingdoms, faiths and trade routes. You can also browse everything in the 8th century.