Charlemagne (Charles the Great, also known as Charles I, l. 742-814) was King of the Franks (r. 768-814), King of the Franks and Lombards (r. 774-814), and Holy Roman Emperor (r. 800-814). He is among the best-known and most influential figures of the Early Middle Ages for his military successes which united most of Western Europe, his educational and ecclesiastical reforms, and his policies which laid the foundation for the development of later European nations.
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Timeline
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768 - 814Charlemage reigns as King of the Franks.
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768 - 771Charlemagne co-rules Francia with his brother Carloman I until Carloman's death.
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772 - 804The Saxon Wars; Charlemagne defeats the Saxons and establishes Christianity in Saxony.
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774 - 814Charlemagne reigns as King of the Franks and Lombards.
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777Zaragoza invites Charlemagne into Spain.
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778Charlemagne's rearguard is destroyed retreating from Spain in the Battle of Roncesvalles, Charlemagne's only loss.
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778 - 796Charlemagne expands his kingdom through military conquest.
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15 Aug 778The Battle of the Roncevaux Pass is fought in the Pyrenees between a large Basque force and the rearguard of Charlemagne's army led by the Frankish commander, Roland. Roland defended his position to the last man, falling heroically, and inspiring later works of French literature, notably the 11th century, *The Song of Roland*.
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800 - 814Reign of Charlemagne, Holy Roman Emperor.
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800Charlemagne crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III.
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807A peace treaty is signed between king of the Franks Charlemagne and Byzantine emperor Nikephoros I.
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814Charlemagne dies and is succeeded by his son Louis the Pious.
