Charlemagne (742-814), King of the Franks and first Holy Roman Emperor. Charlemagne was born at Liege, son of Pippin the Short and Bertrada of Laon. He succeeded his father in 768, ruling jointly with his brother Carloman I until the latter's death in 771. Intent on expanding his empire he had a disasterous incursion into Spain, culminating in the Battle of Roncesvalles. However he was more successful against the Saxons, forcing them to adopt Christianity. Charlemagne. When Pope Leo III escape Rome and fled, Charlemagne brokered a deal that saw Leo III restored, and Charlemagne being dubbed Holy Roman Emperor. He is seen as the founder of the French and German monarchies but also as the father of Europe, as his empire untied most of the continent. This woodcut is from Giovio's Elogia vivorum bellica virtute illustrium, published at Basle in 1596.