History: Charlemagne

768- 814 CE - Charles the Great or Charlemagne was a charismatic and powerful ruler of the Frankish peoples. He was said to be very intelligent, aggressive, capable on the battlefield, and an exceptional statesman. Charlemagne undertook fifty-four military campaigns with the small Frankish army, about 8,000 men. Charlemagne's aggressive military strategy helped expand the Carolingian Empire throughout Europe, ultimately culminating in his control of much of Germany, Italy, Saxony and part of Spain. Charlemagne was crowned Emperor of Rome in 800 CE, however the meaningfulness of this title is in some dispute considering the relationship of Charlemagne with the popes, and the supreme papal power in this time period.