On Christmas day of the year 800, Charlemagne was crowned Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III and accepted all privileges and duties of protector and ruler over the entire occidental world.

He was a patron of arts and sciences and gathered at his court scholars and literary men of all nations. He founded schools at Aachen, Colgne, Fulda, Hersfeld, Reichenau, Salzburg, and St. Gallen (Germany) to spread religious and secular knowledge throughout his realm. He is buried in the Cathedral of Aachen, Germany, constructed during his reign.