Charlemagne

Charlemagne was born in 742 A.D. and took power over northern Europe in 768. He ruled until 814 when he died at the age of 71. The significance of his reign is such that after the Western half of the Roman Empire fell in 476, most of northern and western Europe fell into dismay. The lands became a collection of different tribes and barbarian groups that made raids into the nations around the Mediterranean Sea. Many years later, in 768, Charlemagne took power and brought order to northern Europe. Charlemagne's kingdom covered the modern day countries of France, Germany, and Holland. His actions earned him the title of emperor from the Pope, and Charlemagne shifted his focus into preserving and expanding Christianity through Europe. Charlemagne's rule expanded from the north edge of Spain to modern day Poland and as far south as Rome. This kingdom brought order, stability, Christianity, and Feudalism to Europe, and from Charlemagne's kingdom developed the Holy Roman Empire which was powerful enough to withstand the rapid rise of Islam at the beginning of the 9th Century.