The most famous ruler of the Middle Ages was Charlemagne.
Charlemagne is known for conquering much of Western Europe and uniting it
under one great empire. Not only was he known for being a great ruler, but for
reviving the political and cultural life of Europe which had collapsed during the
fall of the Western Roman Empire.
This great ruler was born approximately on April 2, 742. He was born to
Pepin the Short and to Bertrada. Charlemagne had a younger brother named
Carloman. Carloman was four years younger than Charlemagne. Not much is
known about Charlemagne's childhood ,but it is known that he learned how to
speak and read Latin but, he never learned to write it. One of his many teachers
was Fulrad, the abbot of St. Denis. He was 21 when his father died. By this time,
Charlemagne already had political and military experience.
Maybe because he
was the oldest and most experienced son he inherited half of the kingdom.
In 770, Charlemagne was arranged to marry Desiderata. To complete his
mother's order, he had disowned Hiltrude. She lived with him in an unofficial
,but happy marriage that produced one son Pepin. In 771, Charlemagne
divorced Desiderata and sent her back to her father. By divorcing Desiderata he
broke the alliance he had with the Lombards. After the divorce, he married
Hildegard. After this Charlemagne married two more times. He had a total 3
sons and 8 daughters.
Some people describe Charlemagne as a strong, found of exercise man.
He had an alert mind and a forceful personality. Charlemagne was more than 6
feet tall, with piercing eyes, fair hair, a thick neck and a potbelly. His second
official marriage made him brighter, more convincing, happier and aggressive
leader. This marriage made him a...