Royalty · AD 742–AD 814
Born: 2 April AD 742 · Died: 28 January AD 814 · Age at death: 71
Charlemagne died aged 71. He was born on 2 April AD 742 and died on 28 January AD 814.
King of the Franks who united much of Western Europe and was crowned the first Holy Roman Emperor in the year 800
Did you know?He was exceptionally tall for his era, measuring over six feet at a time when the average man was much shorter.
Charlemagne is often called the 'father of Europe' because his empire stretched across much of what is now France, Germany, Italy and the Low Countries. Crowned emperor by the Pope on Christmas Day in 800, he revived the idea of a Western Roman Empire after centuries of fragmentation. He encouraged learning and the copying of ancient texts, a revival known as the Carolingian Renaissance. Many classical works survive today because scribes in his era preserved them. His legacy as a unifying figure is celebrated through the Charlemagne Prize, awarded for contributions to European unity.
Charlemagne ( SHAR-lə-mayn; 2 April 748 – 28 January 814) was King of the Franks from 768, King of the Lombards from 774, and Emperor of what is now known as the Carolingian Empire from 800.
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Profile
Frankish emperor, born c. 742
Charlemagne was born around 742.
He became King of the Franks in 768.
He was crowned Emperor in 800.
He died in Aachen in 814.
Career highlights
Did you know?He is said to have learned to read but never to write.
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Last reviewed: October 2026