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 a thick neck and deep chest. He had the red hair and blue eyes of his tribe and was possessed of both strength and stamina. He was typical of the Franks in his love for hunting and for feasting, but Einhard notes that his king drank in moderation–a mere three cups of wine with a meal.
Charlemagne was an ambitious king, aggressive and ruthless, but equally notable was his perseverance, his ability to carry through on a plan. He was not a great general, but he was a dogged campaigner and was often able to wear the enemy down through sheer force. Indeed, one of his more important attributes was his physical energy. Einhard notes that Charlemagne was able to work longer and harder than his commanders or his secretaries. He was no intellectual, but he had a keen mind and appreciated literature, 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.
