Mark Schuler: Charlemagne

Artist: Mark Schuler
1951 -
Nationality: American
Artwork Year: 1980
Image Size: 9 by 11.875 inches
Overall Size: 15 by 17 inches
Medium: Mixed Media on Hot Press Illustration Board

Charlemagne, King of the Franks and Emperor of the West, was born in 742, the eldest son of Pepin the Short. When his father died, Charlemagne shared the Frankish kingdom with his brother Carloman. The brothers were rivals for power, but serious trouble was averted when Carloman died in 771 and Charlemagne, ignoring the rights of his nephews, became sole ruler. His career was filled with a series of military encounters and expeditions of conquest. From 772 to 785 he fought with, and finally subjugated, the pagan Saxons. During this time he also destroyed the kingdom of Lombardy and was crowned King of the Lombards. He united practically all the Christian lands of western Europe and in 800, was eventually crowned Carolus Augustus, Emperor of the Romans. Earlier, in 778, he led an expedition into Spain against the Arabs. This campaign was not historically important but it is remembered because his Paladin, Roland, died at Roncesvalles. This incident gave rise to the great epic poems of medieval France and perhaps the most famous of them was Chanson de Roland. Another favorite was Chanson de Geste, in which Charlemagne, surrounded by twelve legendary peers, was the central figure. Charlemagne built churches and palaces, and his school at Aachen became the cradle of the "Carolingian renaissance" of learning. Charlemagne died in 814 and was buried at Aix-la-Chapelle.

This artwork was originally published on the Fleetwood® First Day Cover for the French Andorra Europa stamp featured in the 1980 Portraits of Greatness collection.

Artwork Copyright © 1980 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB06464

US$ Price: $950.00

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