Einhard's Vita Karoli Magni is a unique document of the early Middle Ages, both from a historical and a literary point of view. It is a personal account by a close associate of the life, character, and achievements of the greatest ruler of his time, Charlemagne, a man who had a decisive impact on the history of Western Europe. Charlemagne's character, wisdom, courage, and actions shaped the political map of Europe in a way that would decisively mark the trend of Western culture for cenuries to come. This alone would explain why the study of his life remains perpetually fascinating to the general public as well as to the historian.