Charlemagne
Matthias Becher
Charlemagne—ruler of the vast Frankish kingdom from 768 to his death in 814 and Holy Roman emperor year 800—is considered father Europe. He founded first empire western Europe after fall Rome, court at Aix-la-Chapelle was a center classical learning focus Carolingian Renaissance. This book is splendid introduction Charlemagne’s life legend. Matthias Becher describes rise traces political military maneuvering against Saxons, Lombards, others, as Charlemagne incorporated these lands into own realm. points out that under Charlemagne, jury courts were introduced, laws Franks revised written down, new coinage weights measures reformed, grammar begun. tried give spiritual basis by referring antique traditions, says Becher, he explores tensions existed between modern ideas traditional thinking. concludes discussing kinship network, evolving arrangements for succession, effects reign, posthumous fame. Concise, insightful, eminently readable, this biography provides wealth information about remarkable man times.
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