Charlemagne , also known as Charles I , was a Frankish king and Holy Roman Emperor who lived in the 8th century . He was born in 742 in what is now Belgium and died in 814 in the city of Aachen , Germany . Charlemagne was one of the most important rulers of his era, unifying most of Western Europe and founding the Carolingian Empire .

Charlemagne began his political career as King of the Franks in 768 , after the death of his father, Pepin the Short . He quickly consolidated his power and expanded his territory through a series of military campaigns. In 771 , he invaded the Kingdom of Lombardy in Italy , which gave the Franks control over much of northern Italy.

Charlemagne also led a series of campaigns against the Saxons , which lasted over thirty years. Although he was often criticized for his brutality towards the conquered populations, Charlemagne managed to unite much of Western Europe under his banner.

Charlemagne was also a great patron of the arts and culture . He encouraged education , founded schools , and even taught himself to read and write, although he was never a scholar. He also invited scholars and artists from all over Europe to his court, which allowed Carolingian culture to flourish.

In 800 , Charlemagne was crowned Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III , an event that marked the beginning of the Carolingian Empire . The empire lasted until 843 , when it was divided into three parts.

To celebrate the 1275th anniversary of Charlemagne, Germany has dedicated its new commemorative €2 coin to him.