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Position:Home>Genealogy> What was Charlamange's full name?Question:I'm pretty sure his first name was Charles, but what was his last? thanks ~ Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I'm pretty sure his first name was Charles, but what was his last? thanks ~ Charlemagne’s name in Latin was Carolus Magnus which is usually translated in modern English as “Charles the Great”. The surname Magnus was not a “last name” as we use the term, but an extra, descriptive name. It would be hundreds of years later that family surnames became the custom in Europe. Carolus Magnus Umm this was medieval times buddy... He was known as by the names Charles I and Charles the Great other then Charlemagne Modern variants in Germanic languages (except English) are: Danish, Norwegian and Swedish: Karl den Store Dutch: Karel de Grote Frisian: Karel de Grutte German: Karl der Gro?e Luxembourgish: Karel de Groussen The Germanic name was Latinised (Latin: Carolus Magnus) and preserved in the modern Romance languages (as well as English): Catalan: Carlemany French: Charlemagne and Charles le Grand, from the Old French Charles le Magne Italian: Carlo Magno and Carlomagno Portuguese: Carlos Magno Spanish: Carlomagno Walloon: Tch?rlumagne and Tch?le li Grand Modern variants in and the Slavic languages influenced by the Germanic name are: Croatian: Karlo Veliki Czech: Karel Veliky Polish: Karol Wielki Slovak: Karol Ve?ky Slovenian: Karel Veliki The Breton variant is Karl-Veur. Charlemagne Most Serene Augustus, Crowned by God, great and peaceful Emperor, governing the Roman Empire and, by the Mercy of God, king of the Lombards and the Franks Latin: Carolus Magnus, meaning Charles the Great; numbered Charles I of France and the Holy Roman Empire) Carlingian. While surnames were not in common useage at that time; Romans (and those who were Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, of which Charlemagne was one) used second, third, even forth names. Charlemagne was one of the Carlingians. http://www.rootsweb.com/~medieval/addcha... The Closest you will come is: Charles Martel after his grandfather (King Pippin the Short was his father Charles Martel was his father's father and Charles was named for him...as others stated using a last name was uncommon considering they were titled etc.... While people are doing a great job translating the term "the Great", the reality is that his only actual name was Charles or Carolus (the Latin for Charles). Surnames did not exist in that millenium and wouldn't appear anywhere in Europe for another 300 years. Back then, people were known by their given name and a pet name of sorts that distinguished them from others with similar names. Officially he was Charles I, King of France and Holy Roman Emperor. He was the son of Pepin the Short and Bertrada of Laon. Anything else that you read are superlatives added through the years. But that was his actual official name. Genevieve and Jallan have it right. No last name--he was just called Charles until people also began calling him great. |