Made in the Image of God: Great Power, Great Responsibilities

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(From Hel-hama, via Wikimedia Commons, used w/o permission.)
(Kingdom of the Avars, and surrounding lands: 814.)
A dozen centuries back, a warlord brought order and a measure of stability to lands from Vasdomia to Chrobatia, and from the Kingdom of the Lombards to Jutland. For the first time since Rome's empire had dissolved, lands from the Mediterranean to the North sea had some hope of peace and stability.

We call this leader Charles the Great. Charlemagne is also known as Karl der Große, Carolus, and Karolus Magnus.
Charlemagne has been mythologized as a shining light of civilization, and a demonic slayer of 'true' Europeans. There's a very slight element of truth to both images.
Scholarship, arts, architecture, and literature, flourished during Charlemagne's reign. On the other hand, he gave those he conquered a choice: say that they were Christian, or die.

Some of my wife's relatives may have been among those who chose to die, rather than give up their pagan beliefs. We're still cleaning up the mess left from atrocities like the massacre at Verden.
Charlemagne's empire fell apart soon after his death in 814. The European Union may achieve the peace and prosperity Charlemagne tried to impose: and that's another topic.

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