Charlemagne Man Myth and Empire Builder

This episode is derived from a medieval history article that exhaustively focuses on the life and legacy of Charlemagne, from his uncertain birth to his death and posthumous memory. The detailed analysis covers the family dynamics and political legacy he received from his father, Pepin the Short, highlighting the political role of his mother, Bertrada of Laon. The episode traces Charlemagne's path to sole power, emphasizing the importance of his brother Carloman's death, his strategic military campaigns (especially against the Lombards and Saxons), and the subsequent creation of the Carolingian Empire. Furthermore, the episode meticulously examines administrative and cultural reforms, such as the use of the missi dominici and the Carolingian Renaissance, culminating in the imperial coronation in 800 and the complex issue of succession.