Charlemagne was King of the Franks (768-814) and Emperor of the Romans (800-814), expanding the relatively-small Frankish kingdom into an empire that included much of Western and Central Europe. When he conquered Italy in 800, he became a rival of the Byzantine Emperor in Constantinople and, as Charles I in the line of German kings, was also King of France for a short period. His rule is associated with the Carolingian Renaissance, a revival of art, religion and culture spearheaded by the Catholic Church.

The son of King Pepin 'The Short' and Bertrada of Laon, a Frankish queen, he succeeded his father and ruled the Franks with his brother, Carloman I. The brothers did not get along, but Carloman's sudden death in 771 prevented outright war. Charlemagne followed in his father's footsteps as protector of the Papacy in Rome, and fought to remove the Lombards from power in Italy. He was promised several Iberian cities in return for military assistance to the Muslim governor in Barcelon, but was defeated by the Basques at the Battle of Roncesvalles (778) after the promise was revoked. The battle was fictionalized in the "Song of Roland." He also campaigned again the Saxons in the east, finally conquering and converting them to Christianity.

Today he is regarded as the founding father of the monarchies in France and Germany, and as the "Father of Europe" after uniting Europe for the first time since the Romans.

Marriages and heirs

Charlemagne had twenty children over the course of his life with eight of his ten known wives or concubines. Nonetheless, he only had four legitimate grandsons, the four sons of his third son, Louis. In addition, he had a grandson (Bernard of Italy, the only son of his third son, Pippin of Italy), who was born illegitimate but included in the line of inheritance. So, despite twenty children, the claimants to his inheritance were few.

• His first relationship was with Himiltude. The nature of this relationship is variously described as concubinage, a legal marriage, or a Friedelehe (sort of marriage contract of two equal parties with the same rights in the relationship). Charlemagne put her aside when he married Desiderata. The union with Himiltrude produced two children:
  • Amaudru, a daughter
  • Pippin the Hunchback (ca. 769–811)
• After her, his first wife was Desiderata, daughter of Desiderius, king of the Lombards; married in 770, annulled in 771.
• His second wife was Hildegard (757 or 758–783), married 771, died 783. By her he had nine children:
  • Charles the Younger (ca. 772–4 December 811), Duke of Maine, and crowned King of the Franks on 25 December 800
  • Carloman, renamed Pippin (April 777–8 July 810), King of Italy
  • Adalhaid (774), who was born whilst her parents were on campaign in Italy. She was sent back to Francia, but died before reaching Lyons
  • Rotrude (or Hruodrud) (775–6 June 810)
  • Louis 'The Pious' (778–20 June 840), twin of Lothair, King of Aquitaine since 781, crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 813, senior Emperor from 814
  • Lothair (778–6 February 779/780), twin of Louis, he died in infancy
  • Bertha (779-826)
  • Gisela (781-808)
  • Hildegarde (782-783)
• His third wife was Fastrada, married 784, died 794. By her he had:
  • Theodrada (b.784), Abbess of Argenteuil
  • Hiltrude (b.787)
• His fourth wife was Luitgard, married 794, died childless.

Concubinages and illegitimate children

• His first known concubine was Gersuinda. By her he had:
  • Adaltrude (b.774)
• His second known concubine was Madelgard. By her he had:
  • Ruodhaid (775–810), Abbess of Faremoutiers
• His third known concubine was Amaltrud of Vienne. By her he had:
  • Alpaida (b.794)
• His fourth known concubine was Regina. By her he had:
  • Drogo (801–855), Bishop of Metz from 823 and Abbot of Luxeuil Abbey
  • Hugh (802–844), Archchancellor of the Empire
• His fifth known concubine was Ethelind. By her he had:
  • Richbod (805–844), Abbott of Saint-Riquier
  • Theodoric (b. 807)