Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, was King of the Franks from 768 and the first Holy Roman Emperor from 800 until his death. He united much of Western and Central Europe during the early Middle Ages, laying the foundations for modern France and Germany. His rule spurred the Carolingian Renaissance, a period of cultural and intellectual revival in Europe. Remembered as the 'Father of Europe,' his legacy profoundly shaped the continent's political and religious landscape for centuries.