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Charlemagne (742-814), also known as Charles the Great, was King of the Franks and the first Holy Roman Emperor. He earned the title 'Father of Europe' by uniting most of Western Europe under one rule for the first time since the fall of the Roman Empire. His empire encompassed modern-day France, Germany, the Low Countries, Switzerland, Austria, and much of Italy. Beyond military conquest, he standardized currency, promoted literacy through the Carolingian Renaissance, and established administrative systems that formed the foundation of medieval European governance. His coronation by Pope Leo III on Christmas Day 800 CE created the template for the relationship between church and state that would define European politics for centuries, much as Confucius defined governance philosophy in East Asia.

The Carolingian Renaissance was a cultural and intellectual revival that Charlemagne deliberately fostered across his empire during the late 8th and early 9th centuries. He recruited the finest scholars of the age, most notably Alcuin of York, to his court at Aachen. Together they reformed education, established monastic schools, standardized Latin script into the Carolingian minuscule (the ancestor of modern lowercase letters), and organized massive programs to copy and preserve ancient Roman and Greek texts. Without this effort, many classical works might have been permanently lost. The Carolingian Renaissance bridged the gap between antiquity and the later medieval period, laying groundwork that would eventually flower into the full Renaissance that produced Leonardo da Vinci and Dante Alighieri.

At its peak, Charlemagne's empire covered approximately 1.2 million square kilometers, making it the largest Western European state since the Roman Empire. It stretched from the Pyrenees in the southwest to the Elbe River in the northeast, from the North Sea to central Italy. The empire incorporated diverse peoples including Franks, Saxons, Lombards, Bavarians, and Aquitanians. Charlemagne administered this vast territory through a system of counties overseen by appointed counts, with traveling inspectors called missi dominici ensuring compliance with royal edicts. Unlike the empires of Genghis Khan or Alexander the Great, Charlemagne's realm was built as much through diplomatic marriage alliances and religious conversion as through military conquest, giving it a more durable institutional framework.

Charlemagne died on January 28, 814, and his empire passed to his sole surviving son, Louis the Pious. Louis struggled to maintain unity, and after his death in 840, civil war erupted among his three sons. The Treaty of Verdun in 843 formally divided the empire into three kingdoms: West Francia (precursor to France), East Francia (precursor to Germany), and a Middle Kingdom stretching from the Low Countries to Italy. This tripartite division created the political geography that would shape European conflicts for a millennium, including both World Wars. The Holy Roman Empire continued in the eastern portion, claiming Charlemagne's legacy until Napoleon dissolved it in 1806. The fragmentation demonstrated a recurring historical pattern where great unified empires rarely survive their founder's generation.

According to his biographer Einhard, Charlemagne could read Latin and some Greek but struggled with writing. Einhard describes how the emperor kept tablets under his pillow to practice forming letters, though he never became truly proficient because he started too late in life. This personal limitation makes his passionate promotion of education and literacy all the more remarkable. He mandated that every cathedral and monastery establish schools, insisted that clergy be literate, and personally presided over scholarly discussions at his court. His approach was pragmatic: even if he could not master writing himself, he understood that a literate administration was essential for governing a vast empire. This combination of personal humility and visionary policy is one reason his reputation endures on platforms like JudgeMarket.

On Christmas Day 800 CE, Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne Emperor of the Romans at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The circumstances were somewhat dramatic — Leo had been attacked by rivals in Rome and fled to Charlemagne for protection. After Charlemagne restored him to the papal throne, Leo reciprocated with the imperial coronation. Einhard claims Charlemagne was surprised and even displeased by the coronation, though many historians doubt this account. The event was profoundly significant: it established the precedent that the Pope could confer imperial authority, creating a Church-State dynamic that dominated European politics for centuries. It also directly challenged the Byzantine Empire's claim to be the sole continuation of Rome, setting up an east-west rivalry that echoed well beyond the medieval period.

The Saxon Wars (772-804) were a brutal, 30-year campaign by Charlemagne to conquer and forcibly Christianize the pagan Saxons of northern Germany. These were among the bloodiest conflicts of the early medieval period, featuring the infamous Massacre of Verden in 782 where Charlemagne allegedly ordered the execution of 4,500 Saxon prisoners in a single day. The wars included forced mass baptisms, destruction of sacred sites like the Irminsul pillar, and deportation of Saxon populations. While the conquest ultimately integrated Saxony into the Carolingian Empire and the Christian world, the methods used represent the darkest chapter of Charlemagne's legacy. On JudgeMarket, these atrocities create persistent downward pressure on his reputation among traders who weigh moral dimensions alongside political achievements.

Charlemagne occupies a mid-tier price range on JudgeMarket, reflecting his enormous historical importance balanced against limited modern cultural visibility. Unlike figures such as Leonardo da Vinci or Albert Einstein who regularly appear in popular media, Charlemagne's recognition is strongest among history enthusiasts and European political analysts. His price tends to see modest upticks around European integration discussions, as his legacy is frequently invoked in debates about EU unity. The Charlemagne Prize, awarded annually in Aachen for contributions to European unification, provides regular media exposure. Traders often pair Charlemagne with Julius Caesar or Napoleon Bonaparte to construct thematic positions around European empire-builders and compare how different eras of conquest are valued by the market.

Einhard's biography provides the most detailed physical description of Charlemagne: he was tall (modern exhumation estimates suggest around 6 feet or 184 cm, exceptional for the era), with a thick neck, round face, prominent nose, and lively eyes. He had light hair that turned white in old age and was said to be robust and athletic, enjoying swimming and hunting. He reportedly had a high-pitched voice that seemed incongruous with his imposing frame. Archaeological examinations of bones attributed to him in Aachen Cathedral in 2010 largely confirmed Einhard's account, revealing a tall, well-built man who suffered from a limp in his final years. His physical presence undoubtedly contributed to his authority in an age where personal prowess mattered greatly in leadership.

Charlemagne is claimed as a founding figure by both France and Germany because his empire preceded the existence of either nation. The Franks were a Germanic people, and Charlemagne spoke a Frankish dialect, giving Germany a linguistic claim. Yet his capital at Aachen lies near the French border, and the Treaty of Verdun split his empire into what became the French and German states. Both nations have used Charlemagne to legitimize their own national narratives — the French as 'Charlemagne,' the Germans as 'Karl der Grosse.' This dual identity makes him a unique asset on JudgeMarket: events in either country can affect his reputation price. The European Union explicitly invokes his legacy through the Charlemagne Prize, positioning him as a symbol that transcends national boundaries.

Charlemagne's relationship with the Catholic Church was one of mutual dependency and strategic partnership. He served as the Church's military protector, defending papal territories and expanding Christendom through conquest. In return, the Church legitimized his rule, culminating in the imperial coronation of 800 CE. He appointed bishops and abbots, directed church councils, and imposed the tithe system throughout his realm. His religious policy was assertive — he saw himself not merely as a secular ruler but as the divinely appointed guardian of Christian civilization. This theocratic dimension puts him in an interesting comparative position on JudgeMarket with figures like Saladin and Joan of Arc, whose legacies are also deeply intertwined with religious authority and divine mandate claims.

Charlemagne had at least 18 children by his multiple wives and concubines, making his family tree extraordinarily complex. His known wives included Desiderata (annulled), Hildegard of Vinzgau, Fastrada, and Luitgard. Among his most notable children were Pepin the Hunchback (who rebelled against him), Charles the Younger, Pepin of Italy, and Louis the Pious, who eventually inherited the empire. He also had several daughters whom he famously refused to allow to marry, keeping them at court — Einhard hints at scandals surrounding this arrangement. His extensive progeny meant that within a few generations, virtually every European noble family could claim descent from him. Genetic studies suggest that most people of European ancestry today are likely his descendants, making him literally a father of Europe in the biological sense as well.

Charlemagne is a classic value-play asset on JudgeMarket. His fundamental historical importance arguably exceeds his current market price, creating potential upside for patient traders. A key strategy is event-driven trading around the annual Charlemagne Prize ceremony in Aachen, which reliably generates media coverage. Pair trading him against Napoleon Bonaparte can be profitable when the market overvalues spectacle over institution-building. Charlemagne also benefits from a 'European unity' sentiment factor — during periods of EU optimism, his price tends to rise. For portfolio construction, he pairs well with Aristotle and Confucius as foundational civilization-builders with stable demand. Avoid overleveraging though, as his limited pop culture presence means price catalysts are less frequent than for more visible figures.

Charlemagne became one of the central figures of medieval European legend, far exceeding his historical reality. The 11th-century Song of Roland, which dramatizes the Battle of Roncevaux Pass, portrays him as an almost messianic figure leading Christendom against Islam. He features prominently in the Matter of France, a vast cycle of chivalric romances that includes tales of his paladins like Roland and Oliver. In Italian literature, Dante Alighieri placed him in Paradise in the Divine Comedy, alongside other great warriors of the faith. The legend of Charlemagne sleeping beneath a mountain, awaiting his return in Europe's hour of need, mirrors similar myths about King Arthur. These literary traditions have kept his name alive across centuries and contribute to the cultural depth that underpins his JudgeMarket valuation.

There is a strong case that Charlemagne is undervalued relative to his historical impact. As the figure who effectively created the political map of modern Europe and preserved classical learning through the Dark Ages, his influence arguably exceeds that of more famous medieval figures like Joan of Arc or Saladin. However, market price reflects cultural relevance as much as historical importance, and Charlemagne suffers from a recognition gap — most people know his name but few can articulate his achievements. This creates a classic value-investing opportunity: if a major film, television series, or video game were to popularize his story the way productions have boosted interest in figures like Cleopatra, the price could see significant upward movement. Contrarian traders have long identified him as a hidden gem in the medieval asset class.