Death of Charlemagne

814 The death of Charlemagne (b. 747), Holy Roman Emperor.

At Charlemagne’s death there were portents: eclipses of sun and moon, and a seven-day black spot on the sun. His palace at Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen) trembled frequently, and strange noises emanated from the roof of any house he was in. The basilica in which he was buried at Aix-la-Chapelle was struck by lightning.

Shortly before his death the word princeps (or leader -- part of the emperor’s title) faded from an inscription on the basilica. Or, so it is said ...

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