A sweeping, definitive history of the dynamic, expansionist dynasty that forged the Middle Ages - and Europe - as we know it.

A sweeping, definitive history of the dynamic, expansionist dynasty that forged the Middle Ages - and Europe - as we know it.

Today, the Carolingians are best known as the dynasty of Charlemagne. In a few remarkable decades spanning the late eighth and early ninth centuries, Charlemagne united much of modern-day Europe through conquest and diplomacy, establishing the continent's first empire since the fall of Rome.

In Charlemagne's Dream, historian James T. Palmer looks beyond Charlemagne alone to tell the full story of the rise and fall of the massively consequential Carolingian dynasty-the men and women who laid the foundations for his achievements, and the colorful heirs who squandered his legacy. Carolingian rulers established the royal court as a place of learning, attracting scholars and philosophers and driving a cultural and intellectual renaissance. They fought and traded with power centers as far-flung as Cordoba, Constantinople, and Baghdad. In allying with the pope, they forever changed the relationship between church and state in the West. And they dispatched the first missionaries to northern Europe, expanding Christendom's reach farther than ever before.

Charlemagne's Dream details the powerfully human stories of the Carolingians, showing how their pursuit of ever-greater power built one of the world's great empires.

Details

ISBN13: 9781399815628
Format: Paperback / softback
Number of Pages: 352
Edition:
Publication Date: 06 Oct 2026
Publisher: John Murray Press
Publication City, Country: United Kingdom
Dimensions (cm): 23.2(H)x15.2(L)x2.8(W)446
Weight (gm): 446

Author Biography

James T. Palmer is professor of history at the University of St. Andrews. The author of four previous books on medieval European history, he lives in Scotland.

Reviews

Terrific ... this is serious but popular history writing at its best * Spectator *
The story of Charlemagne and the Carolingians is one of hubris and nemesis, of fortune's wheel, and of the wages of ambition. James T. Palmer tells it with authority, energy, and zest -- Martyn Rady, author of THE HABSBURGS
In a gripping narrative, Palmer elucidates the highs and lows of the Carolingian dynasty, whose rulers oversaw one of the most formative periods in European history. In doing so, he has produced a tour de force that will appeal to scholars and general readers alike -- David Woodman, author of THE FIRST KING OF ENGLAND
A gripping account of the Carolingians' bid to build a new golden age in Western and Central Europe by reviving the mighty legacy of ancient Rome . . . they profoundly shaped ideals of Western kingship, religion, and social life, and their most prominent member, Charlemagne, remains entrenched in popular perceptions as the "Father of Europe" -- Peter H. Wilson, author of THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE
The Franks, through the ruling Carolingian dynasty (including the legendary Charlemagne), come fully to life in these pages. James T. Palmer weaves together a story filled with vivid colors - solemnity and humor, barbarity and grace. This is historical scholarship, and historical storytelling, at its finest -- Matthew Gabriele, coauthor of THE BRIGHT AGES and OATHBREAKERS
James T. Palmer juggles the complex achievements and characters of the Carolingian family admirably. Charlemagne's Dream injects a welcome dose of madness back into the story -- Jay Rubenstein, author of ARMIES OF HEAVEN