Jim, and all those interested in history, In the latter half of the fifth century, The Roman Empire in the West more or less crumbled. The Empire in the East lasted until around 1453 then fell to the Turks. The last Emperor of Rome was Romulus. He was defeated in 476 by Odoacer, a German King. My teenage son was surprise to learn that Romulus was actually a real person and not the home planet of the pointed eared Romulans of Star Trek fame. Charlemagne was Charles the Great, the King of the Franks from 768 to 814 and Emperor of the West from 800 to 814. His father was Pepin the Short and his grandfather was Charles Martel. Charlemagne seized the Lombardy possessions and was crown king of Lombard in 774. On Christmas Day, 800 A.D., the Pope crowed him Emperor of the Romans. He was the first Emperor since 476. Actually, he was a barbarian more than a Roman. He spoke the Frankish language, was a hunter and swimmer. He loved horses. History says he was seven feet tall with blond hair and a large smile. After his death, his son Louis I, took over and the Empire soon fell apart. Charlemagne restored the old glory of Rome, if only briefly. What a fasinating character. Lois ----------ORIGINAL MESSAGE-----------: : : Just a historical correction... : : Charlemagne was not Emporer of Rome, but he was rather the First Emporer of : the Holy Roman Empire, the Roman Empire having colapsed several hundred : years earlier. : : Jim Miller : : : : : > :