Becoming Charlemagne - by Jeff Sypeck (Paperback)

About the Book

A professor of medieval literature pens an incisive and accessible exploration of the critical period in history marked by Charlemagne's rise to power and the reign that defined Europe for 1,200 years. 12 illustrations.

From the Back Cover

On Christmas morning in the year 800, Pope Leo III placed the crown of imperial Rome on the brow of a Germanic king named Karl--a gesture that enabled the man later hailed as Charlemagne to claim his empire and forever shape the destiny of Europe. Becoming Charlemagne tells the story of the international power struggle that led to this world-changing event, illuminating an era that has long been overshadowed by myth.

For 1,200 years, the deeds of Charlemagne inspired kings and crusaders, the conquests of Napoléon and Hitler, and the optimistic architects of the European Union. In this engaging narrative, Jeff Sypeck crafts a vivid portrait of the ruler who became a legend, while evoking a long-ago world of kings, caliphs, merchants, and monks. Transporting readers far beyond Europe to the glittering palaces of Constantinople and the streets of medieval Baghdad, Becoming Charlemagne brings alive an age of empire building that continues to resonate to this day.

Review Quotes

"Illuminates the shadowy corners of an era shrouded in the mists of legend." - Kirkus Reviews
"Magnificently chronicles four significant years in the emperor's life...a splendid portrait...dazzling glimpses of Charlemagne's life." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Not only does Jeff Sypeck skillfully recreate the sights, sounds, and multiple cultures of Carolingian Europe, he also provides a fascinating account of the international political currents that made Charlemagne's coronation an event of world-historical significance. An impressive exercise of historical imagination." - Richard E. Rubenstein, author of Aristotle's Children