The Family of Charlemagne

Charlemagne is, of course, one of the most recognisable names of early European history and is widely regarded as one of the greatest rulers of the early Middle Ages. Here, we have a closer look at those closest to him. His father was Pepin The Short whom Charles and his brother succeeded to the kingdom of the Franks in 768. Charlemagne kept his mother, Bertrada, at close quarters until her death in 783. Charlemagne's chronicler, Einhard, who knew Charles personally, says that Bertrada and her son seldom argued with only one conflict of note arising between the two. When she died, Charlemagne buried her "with great honour" alongside his father at St Denis. Charles only had two siblings,a brother, Carloman, with whom he shared power with for a short time after Pepin's death and a sister, named Gisela who dedicated her life to religion. Einhard says that Charlemagne treated his sister, perhaps due to her piety, with the same reverence he had shown his mother.