The first Emperor of the 'Holy Roman Empire' was Karl der Grosse, also known as Charlemagne (2.4.742-28.1.814). In 774, Charlemagne defeated the Langobards (long beards) in northern Italy. In 785 he defeated the Saxons, and in 787 the Bavarians. Parts of Spain came under Frankish rule in 803.
After he was crowned Emperor of the Romans by the Pope on 25 December 800, Charlemagne spent his later years at his palace in Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen). Following his death, the great Frankish kingdom started falling apart as it was split between his grandsons. At the treaty of Verdun in 843 the empire was divided among the sons of Louis 'the Pious', two of whom founded dynasties that ruled in France and Germany, with interruptions, until 911 and 987 respectively.
