Charles, King of the Franks or Charlemagne (748 - 814), as later generations would know him by, would, in 800, become the first king of the Western Christian Empire. His rule resulted in the consolidation of a Christian Europe, and a reform of the Church in Gaul, in addition to the establishment of Christianity in Germany. His life and deeds are perhaps most famously recorded by Einhard, a French biographer and close confidant to the King. They were also recorded by Notker the Stammerer, a German monk. Notker's version includes a number of interesting monastic tales and is thought to be less accurate than Einhard's version. The source text for this edition is: Early lives of Charlemagne, by Einhard (770-840) and Notker (840-912); translated by Arthur James Grant (1862-1948), London: Chatto and Windus 1922. Illustrations from artwork through-out the centuries depicting Charlemagne and his exploits are also included in this edition.