v48_0002 - CHARLEMAGNE Denier, type C

CHARLEMAGNE

(09/24/768-01/28/814)

Charles became king in 768 on the death of his father Pepin the Short and shared the kingdom with his brother Carloman (768-771) under the watchful eye of their mother Berthe au grand pied. Carloman died in 771. From 773, Charles attacked the Lombard kingdom and captured Pavia the following year by dethroning Didier. He is crowned king of the Lombards and confirms Constantine's donation to Rome. The first expedition to Spain in 778 ended in failure (Roncesvalles). In 781, he named Pépin king of Italy and Louis, king of Aquitaine. In 788, he annexed Bavaria after deposing the duke. He led a great crusade against the Saxons between 782 and 803. The latter converted to Christianity. On December 25, 800, he was crowned emperor in Rome by Leo III but it was not until 812 that his title was recognized by Michael I (811-813) of Byzantium. Charles, already old, wants to settle his inheritance between his three sons, but Pépin and Charles precede him in death. In 814, it was Louis who inherited the empire unified by Charlemagne.