{"product_id":"derek-wilson-charlemagne-2006-paperback","title":"Derek Wilson: Charlemagne [2006] paperback","description":"The greatest of medieval monarchs, Charles the Great (742-814) towers over every notion we have of national heroes and semi-mythical champions. His military conquests exceeded those of Julius Caesar. He had the sagacity and dedication to public service of a Marcus Aurelius. In ruthlessness, as in dedication to personal culture, he was reminiscent of Augustus. Yet, Charlemagne was a semi-civilised barbarian chief, with no knowledge of classical culture. This looming monolith was a man of contradictions: a champion of the Christian Church who sat loose to its rules; an enthusiast for scholarship who never learned to write; a great conqueror whose empire barely survived his own death; a pietist (later canonized) who freely indulged his animal passions and sired a score of bastards; and an affable companion and a tyrant who could order the execution of 4,500 prisoners of war. His life and achievements form an enthralling narrative. But, that is only the beginning. Charlemagne was a phenomenon and phenomena do not die. Later, European leaders from Frederick Barbarossa and Charles V to Louis XIV, Napoleon I and Hitler took Charlemagne as their model.\u003cbr\u003eHis growing mythology inspired the Crusades, fed the concept of chivalry, bolstered absolutist regimes, excited nineteenth-century liberals, and emerges today among those who claim Charles the Great as the founder of European unity. Charlemagne is one of the most remarkable figures in European history: only by understanding him in all his complexity can we begin to understand Europe today.","brand":"Wilson, Derek","offers":[{"title":"New","offer_id":51928841584979,"sku":"9780712602174","price":12.84,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false},{"title":"Very Good","offer_id":51928841552211,"sku":"XV80712602174","price":6.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0616\/4001\/6057\/files\/wilson-derek-derek-wilson-charlemagne-2006-paperback-1193798654.jpg?v=1758332600","url":"https:\/\/keatsandchapman.info\/products\/derek-wilson-charlemagne-2006-paperback","provider":"Chapters Bookstore","version":"1.0","type":"link"}