Charlemagne, greatest of all medieval kings, brought enlightenment, prosperity and the civilizing influence of Christianity to all he ruled. His reign marked the dawn of civilization as we know it today.

When he was crowned King Charles of the Franks in 768, the ignorance and barbarism of the Dark Ages prevailed throughout Europe; the power of the Church was negligible and paganism flourished. Young Charlemagne became renowned as the Patriarch of Rome by defeating the Pope's enemies and by establishing the Church in lands he conquered. He also revealed a remarkable talent for ruling these people. Instead of pillaging their lands, he instituted forms of self-government. Matching brilliant military campaigns with astute politics, he spread his domain over most of Europe.

But Charlemagne's true genius was shown by the reforms he introduced to unify his kingdom. He encouraged the building of roads and bridges, established uniform systems of money and of weights and measures. He codified the laws of Europe and regulated the conduct of officials to ensure justice for all. He launched a national program of education and encouraged the preservation of classical literature.

Woven through this Chronicle are revelations about Charlemagne's life that capture the vigor and color of his personality—his adoration of his children, his zest for battle and for sport, the engaging curiosity that made him a life-long student of many subjects. It is a dynamic portrait of a man capable of the herculean task of bringing order and enlightenment where chaos and darkness had reigned for centuries.

From the dust jacket