Which historical figure was also known as "Charles the Great"?

Charlemagne, which loosely translated from the French as "Charles the Great", was a medieval emperor who ruled much of Western Europe in the 8th and 9th centuries. He presided over two Germanic tribes, the Franks and the Lombards, and conquered many other areas of the continent.

Not much is known about Charlemagne's early life. Historians estimate he was born around 748 AD in what is now either Germany or Belgium. At his birth, Charlemagne was the heir to the Carolingian Dynasty, a family of Frankish aristocrats that ruled much of Western Europe.

In 768 AD, Charlemagne's father died, so the kingdom went to him and his brother. When his brother died in 771 AD, Charlemagne took over as the single ruler of the kingdom. Charlemagne became known for his ability to solve problems through violence and was often seen with his iconic sword named "Joyeuse" ("joyful"). He also managed to conquer Saxony, something Roman Emperor Augustus failed to do 800 years earlier.

With the Carolingian empire under his control, Charlemagne introduced administrative reforms throughout the land. He standardized weights, measures, and taxes across the land, which helped improve commerce, imports and exports. He also attempted to consolidate Christianity as the main religion throughout his empire and killed thousands of people who refused to convert. Many scholars came to his court to establish a new library of Christian and classical works.