King of the Franks: The Life of Charlemagne

Includes:

•Charles River Editors’ original biography of Charlemagne

•Einhard’s The Life of Charlemagne


“Right action is better than knowledge; but in order to do what is right, we must know what is right.” – Charlemagne


The most famous man of the Middle Ages was probably Charlemagne, and few would argue that he was also the most important man during those centuries. Upon the death of his father, Pepin the Short, in 768, Charlemagne became King of the Franks, and he proceeded to create one of the largest European empires since the collapse of Rome. Through his conquests across Western Europe and Italy, Charlemagne became the first Holy Roman Emperor after a famous imperial coronation by Pope Leo III.


In becoming the first Holy Roman Emperor, Charlemagne essentially established the new order on the European continent, thereby directly influencing how European politics and royalty proceeded in the coming centuries. As if to demonstrate how large he loomed in life, Charlemagne was numbered Charles I in Germany, France, and the Holy Roman Empire. 

Charlemagne is also viewed as having brought about the Carolingian Renaissance, a revival of art, religion, and culture through the Catholic Church that predated the Italian Renaissance by centuries. The Carolingian Renaissance helped establish a uniform European culture, helping Charlemagne earn the title “Father of Europe”. 

King of the Franks: The Life of Charlemagne profiles the life and legacy of the Father of Europe, including an original biography and Einhard’s seminal work on his life. This collection also includes a Table of Contents and pictures of important people, places, and events in Charlemagne’s life.