Editing Charlemagne (section)

==Acts of Villainy==
Despite his achievements, he gained success by committing numerous atrocities against innocents who were deemed as non-Christians. Once in power, Charlemagne sought to unite all the Germanic peoples into one kingdom, and convert his subjects to Christianity. In order to carry out this mission, he spent the majority of his reign engaged in military campaigns. As such, Charlemagne waged a bloody, three-decades-long series of battles against the Saxons, a Germanic tribe of pagan worshipers, and earned a reputation for extreme ruthlessness to force Christianity on the populace. In 782 at the Massacre of Verden, Charlemagne reportedly ordered the slaughter of some 4,500 Saxons. He eventually forced the Saxons to convert to Christianity, and declared that anyone who didn’t get baptized or follow other Christian traditions be put to death regardless of age. Charlemagne also had the sacred tree of the German Saxons cut down which they liked to a World Tree to consolidate his rule.

Despite his strong Christian foundations, Charlemagne had multiple wives and mistresses and perhaps as many as 18 children, making him an adulterer and polygamist. He was also militant towards his subjects. Charlemagne extended his authority over church and state so could discipline clerics, control ecclesiastical property and define orthodox Christian doctrine. However, despite the harsh legislation and sudden change, he had developed support from members of the clergy who approved his desire to deepen the piety and morals of his subjects