Charlemagne

Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768, King of the Lombards from 774, and Emperor of the Carolingian Empire from 800, holding these titles until his death in 814. He united most of Western and Central Europe and was the first recognised emperor to rule from the west after the fall of the Western Roman Empire approximately three centuries earlier. A member of the Frankish Carolingian dynasty, he was the eldest son of Pepin the Short. His reign was marked by expansion that led to conquests of Bavaria, Saxony, and northern Spain. In 800, he was crowned emperor in Rome by Pope Leo III. As king and emperor, Charlemagne engaged in reforms in administration, law, education, military organisation, and religion, which shaped Europe for centuries. The stability of his reign began the Carolingian Renaissance. He died in 814 and was buried at Aachen Cathedral. His profound influence has led him to be called the "Father of Europe" by many historians.