Charlemagne—giant of history, hero of legend—His power kept both the West and the East in awe. For centuries after his death, the figure of Charlemagne dominated Europe. In legend, he was the Emperor with the Flowery Beard, gigantic, two hundred years ago.

Here, written by a member of his court, is Charlemagne’s life in vivid and personal detail. Einhard shows us the great Frankish king in his own times—in battle at table, reading St. Augustine, educating his children, molding that rally of civilization we call the Carolingian Renaissance.

First published about 830 A.D., this book gives life to the Charlemagne of bards and scholars, and a direct view of the most brilliant reign of the Dark Ages.