Charlemagne painting

A highly idealised painting of Charlemagne—King of the Franks, Emperor of the Romans. Although that last one was purely honorary, given to him by Pope Leo III as part of a political alliance.

The official story the Holy Roman Empire tells is that it can trace its roots all the way back to Charlemagne. This is pure fiction, there is no continuity between Charlemagne’s kingdom and the HRE.