Who is recognized as the founder of the Carolingian Empire?

The founder of the Carolingian Empire is recognized as Charlemagne. He significantly expanded and consolidated the Frankish state into a powerful empire during the late 8th and early 9th centuries. Charlemagne's reign marked a transformative period in European history, where he implemented numerous reforms in administration, culture, and religion.

His crowning as Emperor of the Romans by Pope Leo III in 800 AD is a pivotal moment that symbolizes the merging of Roman, Christian, and Germanic elements, which laid the foundation for the political and cultural landscape of medieval Europe. This event is often seen as a continuation of the legacy begun by his grandfather Charles Martel, who was instrumental in defending the Frankish realm against Muslim invasions, but it is Charlemagne who is credited with officially establishing the Carolingian Empire through his conquests and administrative innovations.

While Charles Martel and Pepin the Short played critical roles in the early foundations of the Carolingian dynasty, and Louis the Pious was Charlemagne's son and successor who continued the legacy, it is Charlemagne's achievements that truly define the Carolingian Empire as a distinct entity in European history.