Charlemagne is crowned emperor
Open the interactive lesson
Decisions, questions and your own progress, in the app
The coronation of Charlemagne, miniature by Jean Fouquet · Jean Fouquet, Tours · Public domain · Source page
The story
On Christmas Day 800, Pope Leo III crowned the Frankish king Charlemagne emperor in St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The west had not had an emperor for over 300 years.
What happened next
Charlemagne ruled most of modern France, Germany and northern Italy. He struggled to write, yet he paid scholars to copy ancient books, saving many Latin texts.
Remember
- Often called "the father of Europe"
- His capital was Aachen, in modern Germany
- His scribes developed the lowercase letters we still use
Review question
Who crowned Charlemagne emperor?
Answer: Pope Leo III. You may be thinking of Napoleon, who placed the crown on his own head in 1804.
Image credits
- The coronation of Charlemagne, miniature by Jean Fouquet · Jean Fouquet, Tours · Public domain · Source page
