Middle+Ages+Letter

814 A.D.  My Dear Friend Einhard, I feel that my life is coming to an end at over seventy years old. I know that when I am gone, you will write an excellent biography of my life for I cannot do so. I am sorry that you will not know much about my childhood however because just as there is little known about my childhood, I cannot recall that many years back to my youth. As I age my memories elude me. I do remember my father dying back in seven hundred, sixty-eight and ruling as joint kings with my brother, who I didn’t get along with, at only twenty-six years old. It was good for me and the state when my brother, Carloman, died in seven hundred, seventy-one. For my one good I ignored the son of my brother but allied with his top advisers. I wish I had the youth to be a warrior once again. I was a great warrior who conquered many lands and became the king of the western world in the year eight hundred. I also valued education later in life. I was illiterate and so was most of the city of Aachen. I wanted Aachen to become a second Rome and to do that I had to set up a strong educational system. The only accomplishment that I value more than my accomplishment at Aachen is being named by the Pope of being the Emperor of the Roman World. It was my reward for putting down protest of the church. The only thing that I feel regret for is my lack of setting up a smooth transfer of power. I fear for my empire after I am gone. Your Life Long Friend, Charlemagne