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We know a good deal about Charles the Great because we have two biographies of him written by men who were close to him. The more important of these is by Einhard. Einhard describes Charles as being moderately tall (around six feet tall) and powerfully built with ....

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.... which he had read to him by others. He was a patron of scholars and brought many of them to his court. All these accomplishments created a wide net of loyalty. Charlemagne had admirers within the Church and among his nobility. His enemies feared both him and his armies. He did not command perfect obedience among his vassals, but none defied him successfully or for long. Charlemagne had one other virtue that is needed if a king is to be called "Great" -- a long life. He ruled the Franks from 768 to 814, creating an empire that would be the envy and model for many an ambitious monarch after him. ....