His Alliance with the Church and the Forging of an Empire
Charlemagne, King of the Franks, unified a majority of Western Europe's kingdoms through the strategic spread of Christianity, his powerful alliance with the Pope, and his vigorous promotion of education and shared culture — transforming a fragmented continent into one cohesive empire after the fall of Rome.
The foundations upon which Charlemagne built his empire and transformed Western Europe.
Missionaries carried the faith into conquered territories, forging a shared identity across diverse peoples.
In 800 AD, the Pope crowned Charlemagne Emperor, uniting religious and political authority under one banner.
Schools were established across the empire; Latin unified thought and learning throughout the realm.
The pivotal events that defined Charlemagne's reign and reshaped Europe.
Charlemagne becomes King of the Franks and begins his campaign to unify Western Europe.
Charlemagne conquers and Christianizes the Saxons over three decades of conflict.
Charlemagne conquers and Christianizes the Saxons over three decades of conflict.
Pope Leo III crowns Charlemagne Emperor of the Romans on Christmas Day in St. Peter's Basilica.
Schools, manuscripts, and unified Latin culture flourish across the empire.
Schools, manuscripts, and unified Latin culture flourish across the empire.
Explore how one man's vision transformed a fractured continent into a unified empire that shaped the course of Western civilization.