Charlemagne

Laura and Lauren

=Charlemagne= [|Souce]

[|Source] Born in 742, died in 814
 * //1.) General Information://**
 * Who:** Charlemagne= Charles the Great
 * What:** When he was 26, he inherited the kingdom of the Franks. When he came to power the kingdom was very weak, his goal was to build it up again and then in 772 he launched a 30 year military campaigne. He tried to improve his subjects lives. Urged better farming methods. He helped Europe greatly but also killed man people who would not accept Christianity.
 * Where:** Western Europe "By sword and cross"
 * When:** 800 he was made king
 * Why:** In 768 he and his brother Carloman inherited the kingdom of the Franks. In 771 Carloman died and he became the sole ruler.


 * Impact on European history and today:**

-His religious mission, his image (the "protagonist of European unity") has carried on through European history all the way through present day.

-Abandoned the gold standard, and changing all of Europe to the same silver currency.

-Did regular inspections on local regional govenors by the royal emissaries to be sure that there was no injustice being done to the lower classes

-Encouraged schooling throughout his kingdom

-Regions of Europe connected by peaceful trade networks and common laws, but he encouraged better communication

All of these things set off Europes "cultural rebirth" [|Source]

The impact that Charlamagne had in the short term views is that he effected many of his people in his empire and surrounding regions.
 * Impact on Euorpean history- short term:**

For example, in 773, when the Pope called on him to help because of the Lombards, he effected the lives of those people. He did this by having his army go and help those people that were having trouble with the Lombard Desiderius, who were from the northern parts of current day Italy. In the end, he ended up taking over the Lombards, and expanding his region of control. He Killed those who didn't want to take in christianity. Because he felt that they were tring to defie him by not switching their religion. [|Source] This map shows the region of Charlemange (green), the Lombards (Orange), and the Savarians (Purple). By the end of his rule, Charlemagne had taken control of all of these region, plus the Avars (Just West of the Savarians).

When it comes to the impact that Charlemgne had on the world today, he did a lot.
 * Impact on the world today:**

For one, he developed money currency in the form of pounds, shilling and pence in his empire, which was used in colonial times, and pounds are still used in Britain.

Also, He first developed the idea of keeping a group of boats on the coast to shield vikings and piratal forces at the most vulnerable places. This relates to the US Coastguard, and other country's versions of these as well. [|Source]