Charlemagne (Frankish: Karel de Grote, High German: Karl der Große, Latin: Carolus Magnus) was Duke of the Franks from 742 to 814, and Roman Emperor in the west from 800.
Charles' ancestors were old Frankish nobility who had provided several majordomos for Austrasia before being deposed and exiled to Saxony. His father, Pippin, returned to Francia at the head of a Saxon army and seized the dukeship for himself, passing the title on to Charles when he died...