CHARLEMAGNE (CHARLES THE GREAT)
Founder & Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire

"By the sword and the cross," he became master of Western Europe.

BIRTH: 2 Apr 742 in Aix LaCHapelle, Austrasia (now France)
DEATH: 28 Jan 813/814 in Aachen, Rhineland, Prussia (now Germany)
BURIAL: Cathedral, Aachen, Rhineland, Prussia
FATHER: PEPIN III, 'The Short' - 714 in Austrasia (now France)
MOTHER: CARIBERT-HARDRAD, Bertrada II of Laon verch - 720 in Laon, Aisne, France

FIRST CONCUBINE: Abt 767 - Hathalgard (Mathalgard)
BIRTH: Abt 746 in Ingelheim, Rheinhessen, Hesse-Darmstadt
CHILD:
1. Ruothild (Ruodhaid) verch CHARLEMAGNE - Abt 767 in Ingelheim, Rheinhessen, Hesse-Darmstadt

FIRST MARRIAGE: Abt 768 - Desiderata verch DESIDERIUS, King of Lombards
No Children - Married her on the insistance of his mother. Divorced at the end of the year.

SECOND CONCUBINE: Abt 769 - Himiltrud De HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE
BIRTH: Abt 744
CHILD:
2. Pepin 'The Hunchback' ap CHARLEMAGNE - BIRTH: 769 in Ingelheim, Rheinhessen, Hesse-Darmstadt
DEATH: 813
3. Aupais de FRANCE verch CHARLEMAGNE - BIRTH: 770 in France

SECOND MARRIAGE: Abt 771 - Hildegarde verch GEROLD
BIRTH: 758 in Aachen, Rhineland, Prussia
DEATH: 30 Apr 783 in Thionville, Moselle, France
CHILDREN:
4. Charles ap CHARLEMAGNE - 772 in Aachen, Rhineland, Prussia
DEATH: 4 Dec 811
5. Pepin "Carloman" ap CHARLEMAGNE - Apr 773 in Aachen, Rhineland, Prussia
DEATH: 8 Jul 810 in Milan, Milan, Italy
6. Adelheid verch CHARLEMAGNE - Aug 774 in Pavie, Lombardy, Italy
DEATH: Aug 774
7. Alpaide (Alpais) verch CHARLEMAGNE - Aug 774 in Pavie, Lombardy, Italy
8. Rotrud verch CHARLEMAGNE - Aug 775 in Aachen, Rhineland, Prussia
DEATH: 6 Jun 810
9. Louis I 'The Fair' ap CHARLEMAGNE - Aug 778 in Casseneuil, Lot-Et-Garonne, France
DEATH: 20 Jun 840 in Petersau near Ingelheim, Rhinehessen, Hesse-Darmstadt
10. Lothar ap CHARLEMAGNE - Aug 778 in Casseneuil, Lot-Et-Garonne, France
DEATH: Aug 778 - Casseneuil, Lot-Et-Garonne, France
11. Berthe verch CHARLEMAGNE - Jun 779 in Aachen, Rhineland, Prussia
DEATH: 11 Mar 826
12. Gisela verch CHARLEMAGNE - 781 in Milano, Lombardy, Italy

THIRD MARRIAGE: Abt 784 - Fastrada of Holy Roman Empire
BIRTH: Bet 761 - 772 in Ingelheim, Rheinhessen, Hesse-Darmstadt
CHILDREN:
13. Theodrada(e) verch CHARLEMAGNE - 784 in Aachen, Rhineland, Prussia
14. Hiltrude verch CHARLEMAGNE - 786 in Aachen, Rhineland, Prussia

FOURTH MARRIAGE: Abt 794 - Luitgard
DEATH: 800
NO CHILDREN

THIRD CONCUBINE: Abt 800 - Gerswind De HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE
CHILD:
15. Adaltrude verch CHARLEMAGNE - Abt 801 in Ingelheim, Rheinhessen, Hesse-Darmstadt

FOURTH CONCUBINE: Aft 801 - Regina (Reginopycrha) HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE
BIRTH: Abt 770 in Aachen, Rhineland, Prussia
CHILDREN:
16. Drogo De Metz ap CHARLEMAGNE - Abt 801 in Aachen, Rhineland, Prussia
DEATH: 08 Dec 855
17. Hugo "L'abbe" Holy Roman Empire ap CHARLEMAGNE - Abt 802 in Aachen, Rhineland, Prussia
DEATH: 07 Jun 844

FIFTH MARRIAGE: Abt 803 - Hildegarde de LINZGAU
BIRTH & DEATH: Unknown
CHILD:
18. Dhoude Liegarde Of GASCONY - BIRTH: Abt 804 in Aachen, Nordrheim-Westfalen, Germany
DEATH: Abt 2 Feb 843

FIFTH CONCUBINE: Abt 805 - Adelinda of HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE
BIRTH: in Ingelheim, Rheinhessen, Hesse-Darmstadt
CHILDREN:
19. Richbod of Holy Roman Empire ap CHARLEMAGNE - Abt 805 in Ingelheim, Rheinhessen, Hesse-
Darmstadt
DEATH: 844

20. Theodric of Holy Roman Empire ap CHARLEMAGNE - Abt 807 in Ingelheim, Rheinhessen, Hesse-
Darmstadt

Sources: Wikipedia.com - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlemagne_the_great
The Life of Charlemagne Medieval Sourcebook: Author: Einhard
translated by Samuel Epes Turner by (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1880)
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/einhard1.html

Charlemagne was born on 2 Apr 742 in Aix LaChapelle, Austrasia (now France). He died in Aachen, Rhineland, Prussia (now Germany) on 28 Jan 813/814. He is buried in the cathedral that he built in Aachen. This is the place where Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands meet. The Bramus Tower of the historic City Hall dates from the days of Charlemagne.
He married Hildegarde of Vinzgau who was a Swabian Princess.

Charlemagne's male line became extinct within 100 years. However, his female line did not. He is the ancestor of all the Christian European Kings from then to now.

Charlemagne founded the Holy Roman Empire. In the book 'Song of Roland he is described as the 'King with the grizzly beard'.
The unification of France, most of Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and northern Italy under his rule was given Papal approval by his coronation on Christmas Day 800.
He was King of Franks and Emperor of the West from 768 to 814. He was Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire from 800 to 814.

In 778 a treasonous act caused the Spanish Pagans to attack the rear guard of Charlemagne's Army. The sounding rams horn by Roland alerted the main body of troops who returned and defeated the Spanish in the Pyrenese Mountains five miles from the French border. Roland blew the horn so hard and loud that he burst his temples and died. Charlemagne prayed the daylight would linger so he could defeat the Spanish and it was granted him.

Charlemagne wept for Roland, his favorite nephew.

Charlemagne then instituted the forerunner ritual of all forthcoming battles. They believed this ritual a good luck charm, but even more so a right to devine intervention. In the sacred ritual they mention of Roland, scream the Battle cry with the kings name, then the trumpets sound the charge.

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