One of the an cient chroniclers o Charles has left u! a characteristic story of the em peror's zeal for edu cation. Finding that in a certain school the boys of noble birth had been neglecting their studies while the boys of poorer families had been faithful, Charles said to the diligent pupils: "Many thanks, my sons, that you have taken such pains to carry out my orders to the best of your ability. Try now to do better still, and I will give you as reward splendid bishoprics, and make you rulers over monasteries, and you shall be highly honored in my sight." But to the idle lads of noble birth he sternly said: "You sons of princes, you pretty and dainty little gentlemen, who count upon your birth and your wealth. You have disregarded my orders and your own reputations; you have neglected your studies and spent your time in games and idleness, or in foolish occupations ! I care little for your noble birth and pretty looks, though others think them so fine. And let me promise you this: if you do not make haste to recover what you have lost by your neglect, you will never get favors from Charles!" Charles' character was made up of strange contra dictions. He who wept openly on the grave of his best-beloved son, Charles, is the same who in 782 at Verden had ordered the heads of 4,500 helpless Saxons struck off in one day. He compelled the Frankish clergy and no bles to mend their morals, but himself had f our wives, two of whom he divorced without cause.
He compelled the kings and princes of 25 provin ces to kneel at his feet, yet his mother and two of his wives often over ruled him in his own household.
Charles is described by his contemporaries as be ing very tall, very active, and delighting in riding, hunting, and swimming.
He was a man of wit, as is shown in the letters ex changed with the monk Al cuin, who for many years was his chief adviser.
At the death of Charles only one of his sons was living—Louis, the least capable. Within a few years the Frankish empire crumbled to pieces, and the quarrels over the fragments continued to bathe Europe in blood, from the time Lothringen (Lorraine) was named after Lothair, one of his near descendants, until the day in 1919 when the Peace Conference at Paris decreed the return of the province from Ger many to France.