After returning from Spain Charlemagne was again obliged to take the field against the Saxons. The year 790, the 22d of his reign, was the only one which he passed without taking up arms. As his power increased, he meditated more seriously the accomplishment of the plan of his ancestor, Charles Martel, to restore the Western empire. On Christmas Day (800) he was proclaimed Caesar and Augustus by Pope Leo III; he was invested with the ornaments of the ancient Roman emperors. The weak ness of the situation was, that the empire could not subsist long in a family where the authority was, by law, divided among the children of the deceased monarch. Pepin, King of Italy, died in 810, and his death was followed the next year by that of Charles, the eldest. Thus of his legitimate sons only one remained, Louis, King of Aquitania, whom Charlemagne adopted as his colleague in 813. Charles, who was five times married, was buried at Aix-la-Chapelle, his favorite and usual place of residence. He was deposited in a vault, where he was placed on a throne of gold, in full imperial costume.
Charlemagne was a friend of learning; he deserves the name of restorer of the sciences and teacher of his people. He attracted by his liberality the most distinguished scholars to his court; Charlemagne established an academy in his palace at Aix-la-Chapelle, the sittings of which he attended with all the scientific and literary men of his court. All the members of this academy assumed names characteristic of their talents or inclinations. From Italy he invited teachers of the languages and mathe matics, and established them in the principal cities of his empire. In the cathedrals and monasteries he founded schools of theology and the liberal sciences. He strove assiduously to cultivate his mind by intercourse with scholars; and, to the time of his death, this intercourse remained his favorite recreation. His mother-tongue was a form of the Teu tonic, but he spoke several languages readily, especially the Latin. He was less successful in writing, because he had not applied himself to it till he was further advanced in years. In the winter he read much, and even caused a person to read to him while he took his meals.
He was a powerful ally of the Church, and promoted its interests to the fullest extent. He endeavored to improve the liturgy and church music. He was desirous of introducing the Roman liturgy into his states; but the clergy, who clung to the ancient usages, offered some resistance. Several churches, however, com plied with the wish of the monarch, and others mingled the Roman and Gallican liturgy. He attempted to introduce uniformity of measures and weights, but was unable to accomplish this design. Another abortive scheme of his, on which he employed his army, was to unite the Rhine with the Danube, and consequently the Atlantic with the Black Sea, by means of a canal. The arts, however, under his patron age, produced other monuments of his fame. The city of Aix-la-Chapelle received its name from a splendid chapel which he caused to be built of the most beautiful Italian marble. Charlemagne also erected baths in which more than 100 persons could swim in warm water. To Charlemagne France is indebted for its first advances in navigation. He en
couraged agriculture, and made himself im mortal by the wisdom of his laws. His fame filled even the East. He received ambassadors from the patriarch of Jerusalem, from the em perors Nicephorus and Michzl, and was twice complimented with embassies from Harun-al Rashid, the famous caliph of Bagdad. He was inclined to exalt the ecclesiastical authority over the secular, and to him may be attributed the establishment of the Western Church as a temporal absolutism under the popes. His empire comprehended France, most of Cata lonia, Navarre and Aragon; the Netherlands, Germany as far as the Elbe, Saale and Eyder, Upper and Middle Italy, Istria and a part of Sclavonia. The great work he had accom plished could only be maintained and con solidated by a succession of able rulers; but with his death, these not being forthcoming, his empire fell to pieces.
In private life Charlemagne was exceedingly amiable: a good father and generous friend. His domestic economy afforded a model of frugality; his person, a rare example of simplic ity and greatness. He despised extravagance of dress in men, though, on solemn occasions, he appeared in all the splendor of majesty. His table was very plain. He was large of build and strong; his height, according to Einhard, equaled seven times the length of his foot. His head was round; his eyes large and lively; his nose of more than common size; his counte nance had an agreeable expression of serenity. His gait was firm; his bearing manly. He en joyed perfect health till the last four years of his life, when he was attacked by fevers and began to limp. In summer he was accustomed to repose for two hours after dinner, but at night he slept uneasily. He wore the dress of his country; on his body a linen shirt, over which was a coat with a silk border, and long breeches. For his outer dress he wore a cloak, and always his sword, the hilt and belt of which were of gold and silver. He possessed a natural impressive eloquence, and in his ex pression of countenance there was something to excite respect, united with gentleness and kindness.
••• Abel and Von Simson, des franIcischen Reiches unter Karl dem Grossen) (Leipzig 1::); Brosien, 'Karl der Grosse' (1885) ; Burr, 'Charlemae) (1888); 'Cambridge Medieval History) (Vol. II, New York 1913); Clemen, Die Portrit darstellungen Karls des Grossen' (Aachen 1890); Davis, 'Charlemagne) (New York 1900); Dollinger, Was Kaisertum Karls des Grossen and seiner Nachfolger' (Munich 1864); Diiinmler, 'Poem Latini Aeri Carolini' (Leipzig 1884) ; Einhard, 'Vita Caroli Magni,' edited by Pertz, in the Ger manise Historica,) and separately (Hanover 1863), also in English by Glaister (London 1877); Gaston, Paris, 'Histoire poetique de Charlemagne) (Paris 1865); Guizot, 'Charle magne and the Carlovingians) (1880) ; Haureau, 'Charlemagne et son cour) (Paris 1888); Hodgkin, 'Charles the Great' (London 1897); Mombert, 'History of Charles the Great' (New York 1888); Prutz, 'Age of Char lemagne) (Philadelphia 1905); Vitault, 'Char lemagne) (Tours 1876); Wattenbach, 'Deutsch lands Geschichtsquellen im Mittelalter' (Vol. I, Berlin 1904). Consult also the letters and poems of Alcuin, Paulus, Diaconus and Angilbert.