Part 2/13:
The saga of the Holy Roman Empire began with Charlemagne, crowned Emperor of the Romans by Pope Leo III. Charlemagne ruled over the Franks, a group eager to adopt Roman practices while still clinging to their tribal customs. Among these customs was the practice of dividing property—including kingly lands—amongst sons, which led to a series of civil wars during the seventh and eighth centuries. Following Charlemagne's rule, his descendants continued the legacy, ultimately resulting in the fragmentation of the Frankish kingdom into three distinct regions: West, Middle, and East Francia.