Outside of Napoleon, the biggest influence on French culture, and the biggest contributor to the popularization of French culture abroad, was Charlemagne. The eldest son of Pippin III, Charlemagne singlehandedly led the transformation of a single kingdom into a world power, controlling territories far and wide across Europe and standardizing currency, scientific measures, and establishing his preferred language  – Latin – as the lingua Franca of the age.

On this day, December 5, 771, upon the death of his brother and co-ruler of the Frankish kingdom, Charlemagne gains sole rule. With no one to check his power, he quickly begins a military campaign spreading his kingdom in every direction.

By year 800, Charlemagne was in control of Saxony, Italy and Spain, and he was speeding down to Rome to assist Pope Leo III to fight off a rebellion. For his assistance, on Christmas day the Pope crowned Charlemagne Emperor of the Romans, putting him in charge of lands spread across almost all of Western Europe, what became known as the Carolingian empire.