Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, was pivotal in the Carolingian Renaissance, uniting Europe and establishing the Holy Roman Empire. His reign transformed society, revising government, military, and social practices. The Carolingian Renaissance marked a cultural shift, promoting arts, literature, and a new moral code. Charlemagne valued education, encouraging learning and preserving texts. His economic reforms included introducing a new currency system, moving away from the gold standard to the livre and denier.