General Notes

HISTCHARLEMAGNE, OF CHARLES I THE GREAT,  EMPEROR OF THE WEST, CAROLIGIANK
ING OF THE FRANKS, SON OF PEPIN THE SHORT, MAYOR OF THE PALACE.
HISTIN 774, CHARLEMAAGNE INVADED ITALY IN SUPPORT OF THE POPE AND WAS CROW
NED, KING OF THE LOMBARDS.  HE TOOK NORTHEASTERN SPAIN FROM THE MOORS IN 7
78 AND ANNEXED BAVARIA IN 788.  AFTER A LONG STRUGGLE, HE SUBJUGATED AND C
HRISTIANIZED THESAXONS.  IN 800, CHARLEMAGNE RESTORED LEO III TO THE PAPA
CY AND WAS CROWNED EMPEROR OF THE WEST ON CHRISTMAS DAY.  THIS ACTION LAY
ED THE FOUNDATION FOR THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE AND FINALIZED THE SPLIT BETWE
EN EAST AND WEST, BYZANTINE AND ROMANEMPIRES.  CHARLEMAGNE RULED THROU
GH A HIGHLY EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM.  HE CODIFIED THE LAW IN HIS V
ARIOUS DOMINIONS.  HIS COURT AT AACHEN, PRUSSIA WAS THE CENTER FOR AN INTE
LLECTUAL AND CULTURAL RENAISSANCE.  THE END OF HIS REIGN WASTROUBLED BY IN
VASION BY THE NORSEMEN.  IN 813, HIS SON, LOUIS I WAS CROWNED CO-EMPEROR A
ND SUCCEEDED HIM THE FOLLOWING UPON CHARLEMAGNE'S DEATH.
HIST
HISTFROM THE WRITINGS OF EINHARD vita KAROLI MAGNI, ASSISTANT TO THE KIN
G: KING CHARLES WAS HEARTBROKEN OVER THE DEATH OF HIS CHILDREN WHO SUCCED
ED HIM IN DEATH, WHOM HE CARED FOR DEEPLY.  HE WEPT OPENLY IN COURT. FOR T
HE KING WAS A SENSATIVE ANDCARING INDIVIDUAL.  WHEN HE WAS TOLD OF THE DEA
TH OF HIS FRIEND PONTIFF HADRIAN (796) IT WAS AS IF HE HAD LOST A BROTHER.
HISTCHARLEMGNE WAS OPEN AND LOVED TO MAKE FRIENDS AND ALWAYS KEPT THE ON
ES HE MADE.
HISTHE TOOK HIS CHILDREN EVERYWHERE,NEVER LEAVING AACHEN WITHOUT THE
M. IN SOME WAYS HIS CHILDREN FELT HE WAS OVERPROTECTIVE, ESPECIALLY WITH H
IS DAUGHTERS, WHO WERE KEPT AT THE PALACE UNTIL HISDEATH.
HISTHE HAD A KIND DISPOSITION THAT NEVER LEFT, EVEN IN THE FACE OF CONFLIC
T.  HIS ILLEGITAMATE SON PEPIN 'THE HUNCHBACK' PLOTTED TO OVERTHROW HIM  I
N792. HE WAS SUPPOSEDLY HELPED BY QUEEN FASTRADA.  HE DIVORCED FASTRADA A
ND SENT PEPIN TO AMONESTERY, WHEN HE COULD HAVE HAD THEM KILLED.