Changes

In 771, with the death of his brother, Charlemagne became sole ruler of the Frankish kingdom and began to expand its borders.  Responding to an appeal by [[Pope Adrian I]], Charlemagne waged a successful campaign against the [[Lombardy]] in 773 to 774.  He went on to annex Bavaria in 788 and Saxons and the Avars along the Danube river were subjugated after a conflict with the Franks that lasted for 30 years.  They went on to accept Christianity.

In 771, with the death of his brother, Charlemagne became sole ruler of the Frankish kingdom and began to expand its borders.  Responding to an appeal by [[Pope Adrian I]], Charlemagne waged a successful campaign against the [[Lombardy]] in 773 to 774.  He went on to annex Bavaria in 788 and Saxons and the Avars along the Danube river were subjugated after a conflict with the Franks that lasted for 30 years.  They went on to accept Christianity.

Charlemagne's rule culminated when he was crowned by the Pope in 800 as the first Holy Roman Emperor. Charlemagne not only oversaw an efficient administrative system, but fostered the [[Carolingian Renaissance]] which spread throughout western Europe.<ref>The New American Desk Encyclopedia, Penguin Group, 1989</ref>  The discipline of his military was unseen in that part of the world since the times of the [[Roman Empire]] and included a resurgence in archery.

Charlemagne's rule culminated when he was crowned by the Pope in 800 as the first Holy Roman Emperor. Charlemagne not only oversaw an efficient administrative system, but fostered the [[Carolingian Renaissance]] which spread throughout western Europe.<ref>The New American Desk Encyclopedia, Penguin Group, 1989</ref>  The discipline of his military was unseen in that part of the world since the times of the [[Roman Empire]] and included a resurgence in archery.

His empire did not achieve longlasting greatness, however, as much of the cohesion and strides that he had made during his life fell apart with his death and the division of his kingdom among multiple heirs who fought amongst themselves.  

His empire did not achieve longlasting greatness, however, as much of the cohesion and strides that he had made during his life fell apart with his death and the division of his kingdom among multiple heirs who fought amongst themselves.