Discover the Unexpected: Top 7 Fun and Fascinating Facts About Charlemagne

1. Towering Charlemagne vs. Modern Dutch

Lo and behold, the towering trailblazer of tall tales himself, Charlemagne, stood proud and tall, dwarfing mere mortals of his time – a measuring stick for both height and conquests: Our lofty king of the Franks' height is estimated to have been around six feet, surprisingly not out of the ordinary for his era. Yet, our dear Dutch brethren would make him blush now, clocking in at an average of six feet one inch, a soaring seven-inch growth spurt since the days of Vincent van Gogh.
Source => newyorker.com

2. Mysterious Birth: Aachen or Liège?

Born to be wild, but more likely born in Aachen or Liège: Charlemagne's exact birthplace remains a mystery, as does his actual date of birth, but historians lean towards 2 April 742 based on the feisty monarch's age when he met his not-so-hammer-filled demise.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Discover the scentsational love story between Napoleon Bonaparte and his wife, which involved a very unique perfume preference! 🌹👃💕

=> Fun Facts about Napoleon

3. CTRL+C, CTRL+V: Aachen's Palatine Chapel

They say Rome wasn't built in a day, but Charlemagne sure knew how to click 'CTRL+C' and 'CTRL+V' back in the 9th century: His Palatine Chapel in Aachen was inspired by ancient Roman architecture, featuring materials like columns and marble stones brought from Rome and Ravenna. With its unique octagonal shape and Charlemagne's throne positioned in the center, the chapel served as the go-to spot for coronation ceremonies for 700 years post Big Charles' reign.
Source => khanacademy.org

4. Charlemagne's Game of Thrones Family Feud

Charlemagne's family could have starred in a medieval version of "Game of Thrones", with plenty of squabbling siblings and power grabs that would put the Lannisters to shame: After his death, the empire was divided into three kingdoms, with a chaotic mix of agreements, treaties, alliances, and power struggles among the siblings and their supporters, all while regional kings and magnates jockeyed for position, until the imperial throne ultimately stood empty in 887.
Source => britannica.com

5. Fashion's Royal Trendsetter

Step aside, Kanye and Kim; fashion's original trendsetter was none other than the OG of the Holy Roman Empire himself – Charlemagne: This medieval icon rocked a wardrobe that featured a linen shirt, knee-long woolen tunic, leggings, and leather shoes, all topped off with a flashy belt, a fur coat for chilly days and a dashing blue woolen cloak, putting his own regal spin on the fashion of his time.
Source => neutralhistory.com

6. Grammar Geek King: Charlemagne's Hobbies

Whoever said "clothes don't make the man" clearly never met Charlemagne, the fashionisto with an affinity for a little bling-bling and a penchant for getting physical like Olivia Newton-John: The emperor was known to be fond of hunting, horseback riding, and swimming, often sporting luxurious embroidered clothes, dazzling shoes encrusted with precious stones, and, on special occasions, flaunting a golden diadem adorned with glittering gems.
Source => history.com

7. Limited Literacy, Lasting Legacy: Carolingian Renaissance

Who said grammar geeks can't be kings? Charlemagne was a royal whose heart belonged to the arts, but not the "reading and writing" kind of guy: Despite his limited literacy skills, he had a fondness for intellectual pursuits, mastering rhetoric, grammar, mathematics, and astronomy, and even enjoying Psalms and early church writings at mealtimes. This love for learning sparked a series of educational reforms, leading to the Carolingian Renaissance and leaving a lasting impact on Europe and Christendom.
Source => christianhistoryinstitute.org