Charles Emperor of Charlemagne

Male 742 - 814  (71 years)


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  • Name Charles,   [1
    Title Emperor of Charlemagne 
    Birth 2 Apr 742  Ingelheim, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Male 
    Death 28 Jan 814  Aachen Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    • 9 a.m.
    Notes 
    • [dunbar_tree.FTW]

      Charles died after four years of failing health, from pleurisy, and is buried in the chapel at Aachen (now part of the cathedral)(Aachen = Aix la Chapelle).  A contemporary account states that he was almost seven feet in height, in an era when few
      men were even six feet - "large and strong, and of lofty stature, though not disproportionately tall...the upper part of
      his head was round, his eyes very large and animated, nose a little long, hair fair, and face laughing and merry." He was warm, outgoing and athletic. {Popular account: "Charlemagne," Harold Lamb (Doubleday, 1954).}
      --- Compton's Encyclopedia (America On-Line, 1995) reports: CHARLEMAGNE 742?-814). "By the sword and the cross," Charlemagne (Charles the Great) became master of Western Europe. It was falling into decay when Charlemagne became joint king of
      the Franks in 768. Except in the monasteries, people had all but forgotten education and the arts. Boldly
      Charlemagne conquered barbarians and kings alike. By restoring the roots of learning and order, he preserved many political rights and revived culture.
      Charlemagne's grandfather was Charles Martel, the warrior who crushed the Saracens (see Charles Martel). Charlemagne was the elder son of Bertrade ("Bertha Greatfoot") and Pepin the Short, first "mayor of the palace" to become king of the Franks.
      Although schools had almost disappeared in the 8th century, historians believe that Bertrade gave young Charles some education and that he learned to read. His devotion to the church motivated him throughout life.
      Charlemagne was tall, powerful, and tireless. His secretary, Eginhard, wrote that Charlemagne had fair hair and a "face laughing and merry . . . his appearance was always stately and dignified." He had a ready wit, but could be stern. His tastes
      were simple and moderate. He delighted in hunting, riding, and swimming. He wore the Frankish dress--linen shirt and breeches, a silk-fringed tunic, hose wrapped with bands, and, in winter, a tight coat of otter or marten skins. Over all these garments
      "he flung a blue cloak, and he always had a sword girt about him."
      Charlemagne's character was contradictory. In an age when the usual penalty for defeat was death, Charlemagne several times spared the lives of his defeated foes; yet in 782 at Verden, after a Saxon uprising, he ordered 4,500 Saxons beheaded. He
      compelled the clergy and nobles to reform, but he divorced two of his four wives without any cause. He forced kings and princes to kneel at his feet, yet his mother and his two favorite wives often overruled him in his own household.
      - - - - - - - - - - - -
      A map of Charlemagne's empire is posted (1/99) at http://www.rootsweb.com/~wggerman/karemp.htm
    Person ID I1826  Bratt Family Tree
    Last Modified 27 Sep 2015 

    Father Pippin, King of Franks III,   b. 714   d. 18 Sep 768, St. Denis Monastery Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 54 years) 
    Mother Laon, Bertha of   d. 783 
    Marriage Yes, date unknown 
    Family ID F1002  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Marriage Yes, date unknown 
    Children 
    +1. "natural daughter" Alpais
    Family ID F1001  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 12 Aug 2015 

    Family 2 Swabia, Hildegard of,   b. 758   d. 30 Apr 783 (Age 25 years) 
    Marriage 771  [1
    • probl. his 3rd
    Children 
    +1. Pippin King of Lombardy,   b. Apr 773   d. 8 Jul 810, Milan, Italy Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 37 years)
    +2. Louis, King of Aquitaine I,   b. Aug 778, Chassenueil, Aquitaine Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 20 Jun 840, near Ingelheim Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 61 years)
    Family ID F968  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 26 Sep 2015 

  • Sources 
    1. [S9] Albert E. Myers, Dunbar family tree.
      Date of Import: Mar 1, 2003