10 Most Evil People of the 8th Century CE: Charlemagne

Key Facts

Other names	Carolus Magnus Charles the Great
Born	747
Location	Herstal, Belgium
Bloodline	Carolingian
Married	Yes.
Children	Yes.
Position	King of the Franks (768-814), King of Lombards (774-814), Emperor (800-814)
Died	January 814 (age 67)

Background

son of King Pippin the Short and Bertrada of Laon, he succeeded his father and co-ruled with his brother Carloman I. The latter got on badly with Charlemagne, but war was prevented by the sudden death of Carloman in 771. Charlemagne continued the policy of his father towards the papacy and became its protector, removing the Lombards from power in Italy, and waging war on the Saracens, who menaced his realm from Spain.

It was during one of these campaigns that Charlemagne experienced the worst defeat of his life, at Roncesvalles (778). He also campaigned against the peoples to his east, especially the Saxons, and after a protracted war subjected them to his rule. By forcibly converting them to Christianity, he integrated them into his realm and thus paved the way for the later Ottonian dynasty.

Most Evil Crimes

List of most evil crimes

Type	Year	Crime
	768 CE	Of moral indecency and depravity for the purpose of extortion: That Charlemagne did launch a vicious campaign of evangelism against the Saxons of Germany by cutting down their sacred tree – the World Tree or Yggdrasil – located in the north German forest near present day Marburg.
	772 CE	Of moral depravity and indecency for the purpose of coordinating satanic human sacrifice: (772 CE) That Charlamagne did commission an attachment of priests as executioners for the efficient ritual murder of Saxons who did not “convert” or pay tribute to the Roman Catholic Church.
	782 CE	Of murder: (782 CE) That Charlemagne did order the unlawful murder of 4,500 Saxon prisoners of war at Verden .


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