Sword of Charlemagne, 8th century (100cm)

Commonly Charlemagne's reign (Karolus Magnus, in Latin) has been associated with the Carolingian Renaissance, a resurgence of Latin culture and arts throughout the Carolingian Empire, led by the Catholic Church [citation needed], which established a European identity common. Through its conquests abroad and its internal reforms, Charlemagne laid the foundations of what would be Western Europe in the Middle Ages. Today, Charlemagne is considered not only as the founder of the French and German monarchies, who name him as Charles I, but also as the father of Europe.