8. Charlemagne

The greatest king of the Franks, Charlemagne, devoted his life to the task of living out a Christian ethic in the midst of the complicated politics of the early middle ages. While greatly expanding the Frankish kingdom, he at the same time established a new standard for educational opportunity, including both rich and poor, noble and common, male and female, in his vision for a culture in which the message of Christ would be carried throughout the regions under his influence. Charlemagne was not perfect, and his critics have often pointed out his failings, but on balance, given the nature of the times in which he lived, one can hardly help but be impressed with his achievements, and his consistent determination live according to the ethic of Christ.