On Christmas Day 800 AD Charlemagne was crowned ‘Emperor’ of the West by the pope. Hailed as the ‘Father of Europe’, he and his family ruled France, the Netherlands, Italy, parts of Hungary and the Balkans, and sowed the roots of Germany. Who were these Carolingians? Drawing on a rich collection of written and artistic sources gain insights into their world of immense power,  deep faith, acts of loyalty and treachery, spectacular culture and the exercise of terrifying violence.  How and why did they conquer and rule such an empire? What is their greatest legacy to the emergence of Western Europe:  the ideal of political unity or revival of learning and civilisation? Learn through  illustrated lectures with dedicated handouts where appropriate.