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Charlemagne Facts & Worksheets

Charlemagne, also known as Charles I and Charles the Great, was a medieval emperor who ruled over most of Europe and brought a renaissance of religion and culture to the continent.

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After his father, Pepin the Short, Charlemagne was the second official Carolingian King. He was not only King of the Franks but also King of the Lombards and the first Holy Roman Emperor. He was best known for bringing most of Western and Central Europe together.

See the fact file below for more information on Charlemagne or alternatively, you can download our 27-page Charlemagne worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

Charlemagne

  • He was acknowledged as the chief protector and co-adjutor of the Holy See.
  • His reign was marked by the consolidation of Christian Europe and the bloom of learning that led to the establishment of great Christian schools in the later centuries.
  • His greatness earned him the title “Father of Europe.”

Early Life

  • On April 2, 747, he was born in modern-day Belgium.
  • He was Pepin the Short and Bertrada of Laon’s eldest child.
  • During his youth, he received practical leadership training through activities involving his father’s court, who became the mayor of the palace.
  • In 751, his father usurped Childeric III’s Frankish throne, making him the first Carolingian king and the last of the Merovingian dynasty. Pepin forged an alliance with Pope Stephen II after meeting him at the royal palace of Ponthion in 753-754, saying that as king, he would commit himself to protect Rome in exchange for the pope granting the Carolingian dynasty the right to the Frankish throne.
  • Pepin the Short died in 768, so the kingdom was divided between Charlemagne and his brother, Carloman. The rivalry between the two successors threatened the Frankish kingdom’s unity. 
  • In 770, he signed a treaty with Duke Tassilo III of Bavaria and married the daughter of Lombard King Desiderius, Desiderata, seeking an advantage over his brother. The agreement started the instability of the alliance formed by Pepin with the pope.
  • He refused to be associated with the Lombard Princess and married a 13-year-old Swabian named Hildegard less than a year after his marriage with Desiderata.
  • Charles the Younger, Pepin of Italy, Adalhaid, Rotrude, the twins Louis and Lothair, Bertha, Gisela, and Hildegarde were his children with Hildegarde.
  • In 771, he took over the entire Frankish kingdom after disregarding Carloman’s heirs when his brother died.

Reign

Italian Conquest

  • Pope Adrian I proposed an agreement with Desiderius in 772. In exchange for their succession to the throne, the pope demanded that he return the cities taken by the exarchate of Ravenna. Instead of agreeing with the pope, Desiderius conquered the Pentapolis and took over some of the papal cities while aiming for Rome.
  • Pope Adrian I sent ambassadors to him, requesting that his father Pepin reimpose the policies of the previous throne. Despite Desiderius’ attempt to refute the pope’s charges, he chose to support the pope.
  • He did what the pope requested, but Desiderius refused to comply.
  • He traveled through the Alps with his uncle Bernard in 773. They pursued the Lombards and eventually forced them to surrender.
  • In 774, he went to Rome on behalf of the Pope and confirmed his father’s land grants in Tuscany, Emilia, Venice, and Corsica.
  • Pope Adrian I bestowed the title patrician upon him.
  • He returned to Pavia, where the Lombards were on the verge of surrendering. The Lombards surrendered, and their king was exiled to the abbey of Corbie. As Lombard king, he was crowned with an Iron Crown.
  • In 776, he was forced to return to Italy due to a sudden rebellion by the Dukes of Friuli and Spoleto. In a battle, he defeated Friuli Duke Hrodgaud, while Spoleto Duke Hildeprand signed a treaty. He took over the entire Northern Italy.

Expansion to the South

  • In 778, he led the Neustrian army across the Western Pyrenees meeting Saragossa. He received the homage of the Muslim rulers in the region, but the city refused to take his rule.
  • He went back home and turned to leave Iberia. While his army was traveling through the Pass of Roncesvalles, the Basques attacked his rearguard and baggage train. It became popular as the Battle of Roncevaux Pass, where many died including the warden of the Breton March, Roland, from which The Song of Roland, the first major work in French literature, was inspired.
  • In 781, he started asserting Frankish authority over the Pyrenees by establishing vassal counties in its southern region making up the Marca Hispanica.
  • His army defeated Girona in 785, extending his control along the Catalan coast.
  • He attempted to siege southern Italy in 787, but after his armies were defeated several times by Duchy Grimoald III of Benevento, he never returned, keeping the region free of Frankish suzerainty.
  • He successfully conquered Corsica and Sardinia, but the dates are not recorded in history.
  • In 795, the Frankish border gradually extended throughout Girona, Cardona, Ausonia, and Urgell, forming a new Spanish March, a region comprising several counties under Frankish rule.
  • After failing in his rebellion against Cordova, Governor Zeid of Barcelona surrendered the city to the Franks in 797. However, the Umayyad authority reclaimed it after two years.
  • In 799, he conquered the Balearic Islands, which Saracen pirates had attacked on occasion.
  • In 813, his army made its final conquest, raiding Valencia from the mouth of the Ebro.

Saxon Wars

  • Because his reign was almost entirely focused on warfare and conquest, he frequently led his army as the commander of the elite bodyguard squadrons. The Saxon Wars, which lasted thirty years and included eighteen battles, won Saxonia, which he converted to Christianity.
  • He forced the Engrians to submit after a brief campaign in 773. After two years, he defeated the Saxons again in a conquest in Sigiburg. He had a major Saxon victory over the Saxon force’s leader, Hessi, whom he converted to Christianity. Except for Nordalbingia, he gained control of Saxon.
  • After learning of a rebellion that destroyed his fortress at Eresburg, he traveled to Saxony from his subjugation of the Dukes of Friuli and Spoleto in 776. When the rebels defeated them, he built a new camp at Karlstadt.
  • He incorporated Saxony into the Frankish kingdom in 777 through a national diet at Paderborn, and many Saxons were baptized as Christians.
  • From 780 to 782, he returned to Italy, and the Saxons decided not to revolt.
  • In 782, he established a code of law in Saxony, including the death penalty for Saxons who refused Christian conversion and appointed counts.
  • When Duke Widukind of Saxony returned and led a new revolt, the law reignited conflict.
  • He ordered the mass beheading of 4500 Saxons at Verden due to their refusal to convert to Christianity. It became known as the Verden Massacre and sparked three years of bloody warfare.
  • The war ended when Widukind accepted baptism, so the Frisians asked for missionaries to be sent to them. Ludger was appointed bishop of Saxony.
  • For the next seven years, the Saxons were subject to his rule.
  • Westphalia led another rebellion in 792, this time joined by Eastphalia and Nordalbingia. After two years, it was discontinued.
  • The Engrian rebellion began in 796 but was quickly put down.
  • The last rebellion occurred in 804, but it failed once more.

Reforms

  • Aside from conquests, he oversaw learning and education. His reign was known as the Carolingian Renaissance because it saw an increase in scholarship, literature, art, and architecture. His conquest also allowed him to observe other countries’ educational systems. In Francia, he made more provisions for monastic schools and scriptoria.
  • In contrast to his father, he expanded Church reforms, making spiritual life a central part of public policy and royal governance. He concentrated on increasing the church’s power.
  • During his reign, trade expanded as the gold standard was abandoned, and Europe adopted the same silver currency. It facilitated trade, particularly because of laws that limited the power of the nobles and allowed peasants to participate in the industry.

Imperium

  • In 799, Pope Leo III was subjected to assault by Romans trying to put out his eyes and cut his tongue. The pope escaped and went to him at Paderborn.
  • He traveled to Rome and held a synod. The pope swore an oath of innocence to him. It weakened his authority, which the pope sought to restore.
  • On December 25, he was crowned Emperor of the Romans by the pope.
  • His coronation as Emperor resulted in the Empire being divided into two parts, each claiming imperial authority.
  • It sparked a centuries-long war between the Emperors of West and East seeking sovereignty over the entire region in 802.

Death

  • He summoned Louis the Pious to his court in 813 and crowned his son as co-emperor.
  • On January 28, 814, he died in his bed, most likely as a result of the deep depression he had been suffering from for several months. He was laid to rest in Aachen Cathedral.
  • His son Louis ascended to the throne, just as he had planned. He left a testament stating that he was planning to donate the majority of his assets to the Church for charitable purposes.

Charlemagne Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Charlemagne across 27 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Charlemagne worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Charlemagne, also known as Charles I and Charles the Great, who was a medieval emperor who ruled over most of Europe and brought a renaissance of religion and culture to the continent. He was King of the Franks from 768 CE., King of the Lombards from 774 CE., and Holy Roman Emperor from 800 CE. 

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Charlemagne Facts
  • The Life of a King
  • King of Franks
  • Dark Age
  • Think! Think! Think!
  • Connect the Box
  • The Achiever
  • No Gap
  • Carolingian Time
  • Word Lookup
  • Legacy

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Charlemagne most famous for?

After his father, Pepin the Short, Charlemagne was the second official Carolingian King. He was not only King of the Franks but also King of the Lombards and the first Holy Roman Emperor. He was best known for bringing most of Western and Central Europe together.

What are three things Charlemagne is known for?

He was acknowledged as the chief protector and coadjutor of the Holy See. His reign was marked by the consolidation of Christian Europe and the bloom of learning that led to the establishment of great Christian schools in the later centuries. His greatness earned him the title “Father of Europe.”

Who was Charlemagne and why was he so important?

Aside from conquests, he oversaw learning and education. His reign was known as the Carolingian Renaissance because it saw an increase in scholarship, literature, art, and architecture. His conquest also allowed him to observe other countries’ educational systems. In Francia, he made more provisions for monastic schools and scriptoria.

How did Charlemagne change the world?

During his reign, trade expanded as the gold standard was abandoned and Europe adopted the same silver currency. It facilitated trade, particularly because of laws that limited the power of the nobles and allowed peasants to participate in the industry.

Who was the greatest Holy Roman Emperor?

His greatness earned him the title “Father of Europe.”

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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