Emperor Charlemagne and the Franks
The Franks
The Franks were a group of Germanic tribes scattered around Western Europe. During the height of the Roman Empire the Franks were regarded as barbarians and their leaders were often captured and killed by beasts in the Roman Colosseum. However, when the Roman Empire began to decline the Franks quickly took advantage of them. The Romans could not defend against the Franks and the other nomadic invaders they were dealing with and eventually fell.
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was the King of the Franks, who later became the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Charlemagne was a very determined and intelligent ruler, he was able to unite all the Germanic tribes into one kingdom entirely through military conquest. Once they were all united he was crowned by Pope Leo III and was from then on known as the Holy Roman Emperor.
The Catholic Church
Charlemagne forcefully converted all of his subjects to become Catholic Christians.
Pope Leo III
Pope Leo III is the one who crowned Charlemagne as the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. It is said that this was only done to show the power of the Catholic Church.
Charlemagne Empire
Charlemagne conquered much of modern day Europe.