Charlemagne, meaning Charles the Great, was the King of the Franks, crowned on Christmas day, 800. He united the Franks in a unified country occupying France, Germany, Poland, the Low Countries, and northern Italy.

He was a heavy believer in education and worked to build universities and increase the literacy rates, while most medieval rulers were not intersted in education.

Charlemagne is also known for his policies towards foreigners, as he worked to conquer the edges of Germany and Poland, allowing conquered people to either die or convert to Christianity, stating, "Submit to the Christian god, or meet him immediately."

When Charlemagne died, his three sons suceeded the throne, each dividing the land equally and reversing their father's work to unite Western Europe under a single ruler. The son who went on to rule the German part of Charlemagne's Empire eventually renamed his land the Holy Roman Empire.