Charlemagne's Dream: The Rise and Fall of the Carolingian Empire

A sweeping, definitive history of the dynamic, expansionist dynasty that forged the Middle Ages—and Europe—as we know it.

“Historical scholarship, and historical storytelling, at its finest.” —Matthew Gabriele, coauthor of The Bright Ages and Oathbreakers

Today, the Carolingians are best known as the dynasty of Charlemagne. In a few remarkable decades spanning the late eighth and early ninth centuries, Charlemagne united much of modern-day Europe through conquest and diplomacy, establishing t...