Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, was a medieval Emperor who ruled over the Frankish Empire from 768 to 814 AD. He expanded his empire through military conquests, uniting much of Western Europe under his rule. Charlemagne was a skilled military leader, statesman, and promoter of education and culture. He established a revitalized Christian empire, known as the Carolingian Empire, and was crowned Emperor of the Romans by Pope Leo III in 800 AD. Charlemagne's reign marked a period of cultural and intellectual revival known as the Carolingian Renaissance. He is remembered as one of the greatest rulers of the Middle Ages and was later canonized as a saint.