Charlemagne

Charles the Great, King of the Franks, and subsequently Emperor of the West, was born in 742, probably at Aix-la-Chapelle. His father was Pepin the Short, King of the Franks. On the decease of his father, in 768, he was crowned king, and divided the kingdom of the Franks with his younger brother Carlo man, at whose death in 771 Charlemagne made himself master of the whole empire, which embraced besides France, a large part of Germany. He attracted by his liberality the most distinguished scholars to his court, and established an academy in his palace at Aix-la- Chapelle where he died and was buried Jan., 814. His tomb was opened to examine the relics in 1000, 1481, 1483, 1861, and July 18, 1906.