1. Charlemagne's father Pepin died leaving kingdom of Franks to sons -
      Carloman and Charles. 

2. Carloman died -(Poisoned?) Charles became king of all Franks -
     and hired a secretary (Einhard) to record his life.

3. Charles defeated Lombards in Italy + helped the Pope.

4. Charles tried to conquer Northern Spain from Muslims but lost.
    His friends Roland and Oliver were killed.

5. Charles created  new churches and schools with help from Alcuin ( a monk from Britain)

6.  German Saxons and their leader Widdukind defeated by Charles and became Christian
      (Saxons had worshipped nature gods at the Irmunsul - a sacred tree.) 

7.  791 A.D. Charles created capitol at Aachen (mordern day Germany)

8. Christmas day 800 A.D. Pope crowned Charles "Holy Roman Emperor."
      Charles became known as :  Charlemagne - Charles The Great.

9.  814 A.D Charlemagne died of a fever, age 71, in Aachen.

10.  Only surviving son - Louis I became new emperor. (he was a weak king, his 3 sons divided the empire)