Charlemagne was the son of Pepin III and received military training as a youth. After the death of his brother Carloman in 771, Charlemagne gained control of the entire Frankish kingdom. During his reign from 768 to 814, Charlemagne expanded the Frankish kingdom through military campaigns and was crowned emperor by the pope in 800. He established a system of government, promoted education, and oversaw the cultural and intellectual revival known as the Carolingian Renaissance before dying in 814.

1. By: Evelyne,Vina,BJ,Max

2. Early Years
● Son of Pepin III (the Short)
● Received practical training for leadership by participating in political, social, and military
activities
● Pepin seized the Frankish throne from the previous king
○ Allowed his sons to rule the Frankish kingdom
Pepin the Short
Childeric III,
previous Merovingian king

3. How He became King
● Pepin’s death led to the rivalry between Charlemagne and Carloman, his brother
○ Threatened the unity of the Frankish kingdom
● Allied with Desiderius, king of Lombards
● Death of Carloman in 771
○ Disregarded the rights of Carloman heirs
○ Led to full control of the entire Frankish realm
Carloman
Desiderius

4. Along His Reign
● During his reign, Pope Leo III of Rome asked Charlemagne to help him with the
rebellious nobles in Rome and Charlemagne grants it.
● In return of gratitude, Charlemagne was crowned as Emperor of the Romans by
Pope Leo.
● United the Western Europe as he reign.
● Did military campaigns from 772-804 and fought against the Muslims, Saxons,
Avars, Slavs, and Lombards.

5. Charlemagne’s Military Campaign (Blue Outline)

6. His Accomplishments and Failures
● Promoted a better education and also built schools
● Made a systematic government
○ Nobles received royal land as their wage
○ Margraves (district officials) watched over local areas
○ Counts (nobles) acted as judges, commanders, and representatives of the king
○ Established missi dominici (messages of the lord king)
■ Consisted of 2 men, 1 lay lord & 1 church official
■ Ensured execution of the king’s command
● Establish scriptoria (writing rooms for monks) and miniscule (hand printing)

7. End of His Life
● Before Charlemagne died, he crowned his son, Louis the Pious, king of Aquitaine
as co-emperor and became the sole emperor after his father died.
● 1 year later, Charlemagne died on January 814 from fever in Aachen, Austrasia
(Germany) and was buried in a cathedral.
● The empire was later divided into three by the Treaty of Verdun
Louis the Pious

8. Treaty of Verdun

9. References
● https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charlemagne
● http://www.history.com/topics/charlemagne
● Ellis, Elisabeth Gaynor, and Anthony Esler. World history. Pearson, 2016.