It is interesting to me that a good chunk of Western Europe was already united once before and fell apart again. You only really realize how large the territory he ruled over was when you find out in how many languages they have a localized name for him and that in general the impression was not so much of a conqueror (which he definitely was) but a uniter. And it's well over a thousand years ago.
edit: Oh, another funny thing: To this day there are people trying to trace their family linkage with Charlemagne, or "Karel De Grote" as he's called here.
Well, he was marketing himself as the uniter of the western roman empire which was still remembered around. also, many of those who considered him a conqueror didn't live long enough to pass their attitude.
edit: Oh, another funny thing: To this day there are people trying to trace their family linkage with Charlemagne, or "Karel De Grote" as he's called here.
It was fascinating to see the shiny copper oxidize over a relatively short space of time.
https://www.rathaus.bremen.de/rathausdachsanierung-2016-3196...