Charlemagne (Charles the Great)

Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, was King of the Franks and Lombards, and later became the Emperor of the Carolingian Empire, which covered much of Western Europe during the early Middle Ages. He ruled from 768 to 814 and is celebrated for uniting a vast territory and promoting education, culture, and Christianity. In 800, he was crowned Emperor by Pope Leo III, symbolizing the alliance between the Frankish monarchy and the Catholic Church. His reign laid the foundations for modern European states and the concept of a unified Christendom, earning him a lasting legacy in history.