768 CE
The year Charlemagne became King of the Franks, beginning a reign that would reshape the political and cultural landscape of Western Europe.
Politics & Power
- Pepin the Short, King of the Franks and founder of the Carolingian dynasty, died on September 24. His kingdom was divided between his two sons, Charles (later Charlemagne) and Carloman, according to Frankish custom.
- Charlemagne, then twenty-six years old, received the northern and western portions of the Frankish realm, beginning a joint rule with his brother Carloman that was marked by tension and rivalry until Carloman's death in 771.
Climate & Environment
- Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was approximately 276 parts per million, as later confirmed by ice core analysis.
Population & Demographics
- World population is estimated to have been approximately 248 million.