Charlemagne, also known as Charlemagne, is one of the most important political figures in Roman history. From 774 until his death in 814, Charlemagne was recognized as king of the Franks, king of the Lombards and emperor of the Romans. During this period, he became the first Roman emperor to rule from Western Rome in over 300 years. His wide-ranging powers allowed him to create the Carolingian dynasty, which is arguably the most impactful empire in ancient history. In this essay I will discuss Charlemagne's influence on Roman culture and how his rule changed the course of European history. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Although Charlemagne accomplished many things during his time as Roman emperor, his most important achievement was the unification of Western Europe for the first time since the classical era. This earned Charlemagne the nickname “Pater Europae” which can be translated as “father of Europe”. Uniting nearly all of Western Europe, Charlemagne's power was recognized by parts of Europe that had never been under Roman or Frankish rule. Charlemagne's unification of the Frankish people was particularly impressive due to his predecessors' history of conquerors. This meant that the group that Charlemagne managed to unify was particularly diverse both politically and culturally. The fact that his kingdom was so large and diverse forced Charlemagne to use all his leadership skills. Depending on what was required, Charlemagne could be anything from a fierce warrior leader leading his men into battle, to a peaceful diplomat making friends around a banquet table. This flexibility is what allowed him to please most of the people he ruled over. The early stages of Charlemagne's reign were dominated by extensive military campaigns. These campaigns were absolutely necessary for several reasons. The two most important reasons were the need to defend his newly found kingdom and his need to spread Christianity throughout Europe. Charlemagne's early military successes provided optimism to the Frankish people that they would soon become a force outside their normal range of power. The most important military conquest undertaken by Charlemagne occurred against the Saxons, who were natural enemies of the Franks both because of their geographical location and their refusal to accept Christianity. Eventually, Charlemagne and the Franks succeeded in conquering the Saxons and Frisians, who were allies of the Saxons along the North Sea. In a sense, the conquest of the Saxons began the vast and relatively rapid spread of Charlemagne's empire. While being a warrior was natural to Charlemagne, I believe the diplomatic side of leadership was less of a hereditary trait. To assist him in this aspect of his role as king, Charlemagne chose a large group called his palatium made up of family members and acquaintances. It was absolutely necessary to have this group to handle the variety of responsibilities that come with governing such a large part of Europe. These duties included creating laws, enforcing laws, holding religious services, and overseeing Charlemagne's military campaigns. One of Charlemagne's most important political goals revolved around his attempt to bridge the gap between his palatium and the general public. Charlemagne cared deeply about the idea that showing more respect for the people he ruled over would eventually pay dividends. He has done this by holding public forums where he has.