Charlemagne The Great

If there was a bigger and more influential man in his time than Charlemagne, who could it be.  This brief history of his accomplishments by Will Durant makes for fascinating reading.  Of particular interest int these days of the rise Islam particularly in Europe is Charlemagne's invitation by Pope Hadrian II to "save" Rome and the Catholic church from the barbarian hordes overrunning Italy in the 8th century.  As a good Christian, and he was a good Christian although at times really fanatical, he assumed the crown from Hadrian and became the protector of the church.  This is a great story about a man whole shaped history in a major way.