CHARLEMAGNE

The Frankish king (from 768), Emperor of the Carolingian dynasty (from 800). His conquest (773-774 years in the Lombard kingdom in Italy, in 772-804 years of the Saxons, etc. ) have led to the formation of a vast empire. Politics of Charlemagne (the patronage of the church, judicial and military reform, and others) contributed to the formation of feudal relations in Western Europe. Charlemagne′s empire broke up soon after his death.

Charlemagne was crowned in 800, becoming the emperor of a huge state. Charles may never have achieved great heights, if not . . . women. All his companions have contributed to the fact that it has turned from an educated man, cunning, daring, diplomatic. These women had a significant influence on the policy Carolingian emperor. With the help of caresses, whims, tears, using the location of the king, they often encourage it to take unexpected decisions.

First wife was Himiltruda imperceptibly. It symbolized the period of study of the great Charles. He was eighteen years old, he was handsome, all the girls with the hope of his glances. Then his mother, a wise Bertrada, decided that rather than let him get faster that hand than to try to find happiness on the side . . .

Himiltruda was charming, graceful, chaste, affectionate, and Carl, characterized ardor of love, she was repeatedly surprised. His temperament is debilitating and a little embarrassed Himiltrudu. First wife turned him from a timid young man into a confident young man who gave him a son, who was called Pepin the Hunchback, because, unfortunately, he really was a hump.

The second marriage of Charles was imprisoned for political reasons. To prevent his brother, willful Karlomanu, together with the King of Kingdom of the Lombards, Karl was forced to marry the daughter of the last - weak-willed, ugly Desire.

Photo — «Charlemagne»

Carl Himiltrudu sent to a convent, retaining for life the memories of his first passionate love. A year after his marriage Carloman died, and Charles, seeing no more need to maintain the alliance with the King of the Lombards, sent unloved Désiré back to his father in Pavia.

Soon he became acquainted with graceful Hildegard, unconscious love and soon married her. Beautiful Hildegard had a beneficial influence on her husband. This marriage has transformed Charles. It was not long after the wedding, and he went to his first trip to the Saxons. Hildegard, which the King had not abandoned, all the time was near him. She slept in the wagons, shared all the hardships of life Frankish warriors, bestowed kindness to King in the hours of rest.

For many years she was traveling. In 777, when the Frankish army was encamped near the road to Ronseval, Hildegard said Carl important news: she was expecting a male heir. This news amazed by her husband, and that same evening, he invited his friends to a great feast.

Hildegard gave to her husband nine children: four sons - Charles, Pepin, Louis, Lothar, and five daughters - Adelaide, Rotrudu, Berthe, Giselle, Hildegard. When the eleventh year of her marriage she died, unable to bear the burdens of camp life, which she had to fight for Charles, the entire kingdom mourn its passing. Carl strongly experienced loss and went to war only after the funeral, which was considered at that time a great delicacy. On her gravestone is written: "She was lovely, like no other Frankish woman. "

Despite the grief, a few months after the death of his beloved woman Charles married again. His chosen one was the daughter of the Frankish count, arrogant Fastrada. Karl is so fallen under the influence of the fourth wife, that historians still do not stop this deplorable.

Photo — «Charlemagne»

The new queen of Charles tune against people who have been unpleasant for her, forced him to part with the faithful servants, always encouraged her husband to the massacre of imaginary conspirators. Being depressed will Fastrady, the future ruler of Western Europe made a few mistakes, causing great dissatisfaction at the court. His enemies were quick to take advantage of this to draw up a conspiracy against the king. But, warned of the danger, he hastily returned from Saxony, where at that time fought, and arrested the conspirators.

Hypocritical and insidious Fastrada pushed him to a very dishonorable act: Carl pretended to forgive the conspirators, and sent them to atone for sin in the church. "Once you have finished the prayer, you will never see me in anger," - he promised. And kept his word: when you exit the temple soldiers gouged out his eyes unhappy.

Intrigue this act excited kingdom. Resurfaced conspiracy. Nobles, deciding to end Fastradoy, united around Pepin the Hunchback, who knew perfectly well that the path to the throne for him is closed. The conspirators wanted to kill the king and queen. And only an accident prevented the exercise plan. The conspirators were executed, and Pepin was imprisoned in a monastery.

Fortunately for Carl, he managed to get rid of this shrew and meet a decent woman - the daughter of a German Count. Lyutgarda possessed those virtues which he had once admired in Hildegard. She was a noble, hardworking and beautiful. He gladly took her to wife.

Carla turned fifty-nine years, but he is still considered the most handsome man in the kingdom, and excellent Lyutgarda in love with him. The king was a fascinating look, lush mustache, slender flexible body. Young Lyutgarda was the same age daughters, a husband, which is often played together.

Photo — «Charlemagne»

Karl is beside the fifth wife of a new youth. Lucky in love, he succeeded in politics. Alas, gentle, beautiful Lyutgarde was not able to attend his coronation. She died without issue, June 4, 800 in Tours.

Ironically, the man who could not live without women, and which was created by them, was left alone in the most important day of your life . . . At Charlemagne, who has reached the top of glory, was no more legitimate wives.

It should be noted that if Charles, who adored women, and decided after the death Lyutgardy no longer to marry, it was done for political reasons. He wanted to subdue the vast territory from the Atlantic to the Bosporus and from the Vistula to the Balearic Islands, and take as his wife Empress Irene, who ruled in Constantinople, the capital of the Eastern Empire.

25 December AD 800 Leo III crowned King of the French imperial crown. After Christmas is the Emperor Charlemagne returned to Aachen, and continued talks about his marriage to the Empress Irene. They were delayed, and no women could not live the king, and he had to acquire a mistress, her name was Maldegarda. By this time Charles had passed sixty years.

Young, charming woman known a hard camp life: she accompanied the king in all travel through the lands of the Saxons, Frisians, and the Hungarians took part in hunting trips, when the emperor wanted to hunt the wild bulls in the forests of Mainz.

Maldegarda was gentle, affectionate, passionate in love games, which allowed Karl patiently wait for a response Empress Irene.

But once the Frankish ambassadors returned from Constantinople with bad news - Irina was deposed. About her secret negotiations became known because of the indiscretion of his officers. Irina was arrested and imprisoned in a monastery. Throne joined her treasurer Nicephorus.

Photo — «Charlemagne»

This revolution has broken all the plans of Charlemagne, but he did not succumb to depression. Since the desired marriage was impossible, he forgot about it, sending their minds and work on other tasks.

A lot of trouble he caused the Danes. Now he drew up plans for military action against them, built a fortified city called Hamburg.

In the spring of Karl felt emotion, characteristic of all military commanders. He wanted to change, and he rejected Maldegardu bothered him, fascinated by a young girl named Gertsinda. I must say that his mistress (as well as the legitimate wife of the king) is not sitting idly by. Between his playful courting, they were in charge of housework, and even engaged in some public issues. Their responsibilities are vaguely reminiscent of what his Ministry of Finance, Justice and Home Affairs.

Chosen Carl disposed of his property: gifts to foreign kings, a tribute to the enslaved peoples, the spoils of war. They watched the government spending, paid for the army, supervised the construction of royal buildings. In these matters Gertsinde able to meet the demands of Charles. She could live a long and happy life in his palace, if loving fervor "husband" does not cause so much suffering . . .

Emperor throughout life is an example of a healthy male, turned to old age in this libertine. He could not pass by a beautiful girl without any shameless antics.

Once he was fascinated by a young blonde woman, whose name was Amalberzh. Met her in one of the corridors of the palace, he rushed to her and tried to rape her. Terrified, the young girl managed to escape from him and disappeared into the chapel. Carl, drunk with desire, burst into the chapel where she prayed before the altar. He was so strongly seized the girl′s hand that he broke it.

Photo — «Charlemagne»

But the Virgin Mary made so that the two pieces of the humerus immediately coalesced. Carl, seeing this miracle, I realized that he should contain his enthusiasm. He left, leaving Amalberzh alone with prayers.

This extraordinary adventure quickly became known in the palace, and the young girl became the object of universal esteem. It was rumored that in order to resist Charlemagne, she will need to demonstrate the supernatural courage. In the end, the church tagging girl a saint, and Karl - the great tempter, was the first who had occasion to witness the holy virtue. In Gertsindy he had two concubines - Regina and Adelaide.

And until the last day of his life the emperor behaved like an ardent lover, and its overreliance on women was the reason for the many funny stories that have entertained the entire Frankish people.

For example, in one of these stories mentioned that before one of the monks of Reichenau city, whose name was Vatan, once appeared a strange ghost: Charlemagne was chained like Prometheus, and kept an eagle pecked at his genitals.

"What do you deserve such torment?" - could not resist the question Vatan. Then the angel said to him: "Add to stories about his stories of the great things about his dissolute life and then you′ll understand why it has to undergo this punishment before going out to eat the eternal bliss of God. "

When 28 January 814 Charlemagne died, combining for a time the whole of Western Europe, the emperor mourned a woman who visited his bedside, and many young girls from good families, who wanted so much that the Emperor had blown pollen from these divine innocence before how to go to eternal rest.