A Timeline of Charlemagne's Life

*All Dates with January 1 indicates that definite date isn't available and only the year was noted

Jan 1, 742

Charles the Great was Born

Apr 2, 742

Charles the Great, also known as Charlemagne, was born to his father, Pepin the Short and his mother Bertrada of Laon in Aachen. This place is now known as Belgium.

Pepin the Short, Charlemagne's Father is declared King

Jan 1, 751

Charlemagne's father, Pepin, began the Carolingian dynasty by being crowned the King of the Franks.

Pepin becomes Merovingian king

Apr 1, 751

Pepin the Short becomes king by dethroning the Meronvingian king and taking the throne for himself.

Pepin dies and the kingdom is split

Sep 24, 768

The Francia kingdom was divided upon Pepin's death. It was given to his two sons, Carloman I and Charlemagne, with the kingdom having dual kings.

Carloman Dies

Dec 4, 771

Charlemagne becomes the sole ruler of the Frankish kingdom as Carloman I dies of unknown circumstances

First Raid on the Saxons

Jan 1, 772

Charlemagne successfully raids the Saxons for the first time. This began a thirty year haul to convert pagan tribes Christianity.

Charlemagne becomes King of the Lombards

Jan 1, 774

Charlemagne conquers Lombardy attaining the throne to become King of the Lombards.

Charlemagne Pilgrimage to Rome; His son Pepin is crowned King of Italy

Apr 1, 781

Charlemagne's son, Pepin, is proclaimed King of Italy as Charlemagne takes a pilgrimage to Rome. He meets Alcuin who agrees to come to his court.

Charlemagne takes control of Bavaria

Jan 1, 788

Charlemagne invades Bavaria and conquers it. This brought all territory of the Germanic tribes under one political hut.

Charlemagne invades the empire of Avars

Period: Jan 1, 791 to Jan 1, 796

Charles runs a series of operations against the Avars, which is now known as Austria and Hungary. The Avars are eventually conquered.

The Pope, Pope Leo III is assaulted

Apr 25, 799

Pope Leo III was brutally attacked in a religious procession on the streets of Rome and flees to Charlemagne for assistance. When he healed, Charlemagne had him brought back, under heavy guard, to Rome.

Charlemagne is crowned as Roman Emperor

Dec 25, 800

Charlemagne goes to Rome to supervise a synod where he helps Leo clear himself of the charges laid on him by his enemies. They thought well of him and offered him the role as emperor. Charlemagne accepts and Pope Leo III crowns him as Roman Emperor at Christmas Mass.

Saxons are finally defeated

Jan 1, 804

The war against the Saxons that lasted over 30 years was finally ended with Charlemagne defeating them. This gave Charlemagne an even bigger empire.

Charlemagne's power becomes official

Jan 1, 812

Byzantine emperor, Michael I, recognises Charlemagne as emperor, although not as "Roman" emperor, granting official power to the power Charles already had.

Charlemagne delegates power to Louis the Pious

Apr 1, 813

Charles entrusts regal power to Louis, his final surviving legitimate son.

Charlemagne Dies

Jan 28, 814

Charlemagne dies of old age. The throne is passed onto his son, Louis the Pious.