Charlemagne, or Charles the Great, was the King of the Franks who ruled from 768 to 814 CE.

He united most of Western and Central Europe through more than 50 military campaigns, creating the Carolingian Empire.

His empire stretched from modern-day France and Germany to northern Italy and parts of Spain.

On Christmas Day, 800 CE, Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne 'Emperor of the Romans' in Rome.

This coronation revived the idea of a Western Roman Empire and established a close political alliance between the Papacy and the Frankish monarchy.

Charlemagne sponsored a period of intellectual and cultural revival known as the Carolingian Renaissance.

He promoted education and gathered scholars from all over Europe, like Alcuin of York, to his court at Aachen.

A standardized, legible script called Carolingian minuscule was developed during this time, which is the basis for modern lowercase letters.

He implemented administrative reforms, appointing counts to govern local districts and using royal inspectors called 'missi dominici' to check on them.

Charlemagne is often called the 'Father of Europe' for his role in shaping the continent's medieval identity.