Charlemagne Charles the Great

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Charlemagne (Charles the Great)
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Charlemagne 742 - 814

• By the sword and the Cross he became the master
  of Western Europe.
• He conquered both kings and barbarians alike.
• People had forgotten about art and learning. He
  restored the roots of learning. Preserved
  political rights and revived culture.

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Background

• Born the son of Bertha the Greatfoot and
  Pippin the Short. He was a tall powerful
  fearless and contradictory character. He had a
  fantastic ability to organise.
• His mother taught him to read and a devotion to
  the church.

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• 768 Aged 26 Charlemagne begins his joint reign
  of the Franks with his brother Carloman.
• 771 He became the sole ruler on the death of
  his brother. The Franks were falling back into
  barbarian ways.
• 772 He launched a 30 year campaign with more
  than 50 military expeditions to strengthen his
  realm and bring order to Europe.
• 773 -774 Restoration of the Papal states

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• 778 He led his army into Spain to battle the
  Saracens.
• 800 the undisputed ruler of Western Europe. His
  realm covered France, Switzerland, Belgium, The
  Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Austria and The
  Spanish March (border)
• Christmas Day 800 - Crowned Emperor by Pope Leo
  III.
• This led to the foundation of the Holy Roman
  Empire. Restoring the unity of the Old Roman
  Empire
• 814 Died in his beloved city of Aachen.

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Aachen (Aquisgranum)

• Charlemagnes favourite residence. Images and
  impressions of him and his reign are to be found
  all over the city.

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• Originally a Roman spa (Aquisgranum).
• The city rose to power under Charlemagne.
• It was the principal Coronation site of the Holy
  Roman Emperor and of many other kings.
• The city began to decline in the 16th Century
  it was too remote to be the centre of Germany.

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Charlemagnes mark on Aachen

• The Aachener Dom
• http//www.oih.rwth-aachen.de/hendrik/aachenerdom
  .html

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Thing the watch out for in the Dom

• The Palatine Chapel - built 790 805
• The original marbel throne used for coronations.
• Charlemagnes tomb.
• Charlemagnes shrine which contains his mortal
  remains.
• The wolf and its soul.
• The golden pulpit.
• Carolingian mosaics.

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The Rathaus (Town Hall)
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• Built on the foundations of Charlemagnes Royal
  Hall (Palace)
• Charlemagne had gathered together the most
  brilliant thinkers of his time.
• Has been destroyed and rebuilt several times.
• The fountain in front the statue of Charlemagne!

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The Karlspreishttp//www.karlspreis.de/html/frame
.html?PHPSESSIDfcfb42892e7f9ba949973e4d70975902

• The Karlspreis Foundation Aachen was
  established to honour support and promote great
  european political achievements.
• Some of its most famous receipients are
• Alcide de Gasperi
• Jean Monnet
• Konrad Adenauer
• Robert Schumann
• Tony Blair
• Bill Clinton
• Pat Cox
• John Paul II

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Charlemagnes Signature
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Just to prove Ive been there!