No other medieval ruler influenced collective memory about the past as much as Charlemagne, the first Germanic emperor, who re-established the Roman tradition through his military, political, administrative, and cultural successes, uniting a vast swath of lands in western, southern, and central Europe, and laying the foundation for the further development of France and Germany. Under his rule, the Frankish world experienced a dramatic intellectual, religious, and artistic reinvigoration, often identified as the Carolingian Renaissance. As Einhard, his later biographer, stated: “Such are the wars, most skilfully planned and successfully fought, which this most powerful king waged during the forty-seven years of his reign. He so largely increased the Frank kingdom, which was already great and strong when he received it at his father's hands, that more than double its former territory was added to...
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Citation: Classen, Albrecht. "Charlemagne". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 17 January 2005 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=828, accessed 14 December 2025.]
