Was Charlemagne French or German?

[The Lawspeaker]

In this video, we ask: Was Charlemagne, and therefore were the Franks, French or Germans, and if either, why?

[Smeagol]

German.

[The Lawspeaker]

Neither. French and Germans didn't exist at the time. They were Franks. Here in Western Europe, we tend to consider him to be our joint heritage and to, basically, be the Father of Europe.

[Smeagol]

Charlemagne predates the concept of a German Nation I guess, but the Franks were a German tribe and the Romans saw them as such.

[JamesBond007]

Neither. French and Germans didn't exist at the time. They were Franks. Here in Western Europe, we tend to consider him to be our joint heritage and to, basically, the Father of Europe.

In modern times Franks exist in both Lorraine France and parts of West Germany so in modern times he could be both I guess.

[The Lawspeaker]

In modern times Franks exist in both Lorraine France and parts of West Germany so in modern times he could be both I guess.

I remember learning that he was either born in the Belgian Meuse valley or just East of what now would be Liège (around Herstal). Other potential areas include Düren, Gauting, Mürlenbach, Quierzy, and Prüm. So take your pick !

[Karol Klačansky]

He had far more in common with modern Germans than with modern French.

[Samnium]

Irrelevant question, as Charlemagne portrayed himself as emperor of the Occident.

[Kyp]

Neither and both. Although he probably would be closer to modern Germans.

[Turxanthus]

German.
Who the French are in an ethnic sense is unclear. Germans dropping their language and starting to speak Latin might become French, pretty much like any acculturated Italian or Hispanian settling Gaul.
Nowadays Armenians of Armenia appear to be willing to become French.

Carolus Magnus was Frank, thus German.
After Justinian, Eastern Rome has become Hellenic and thus stopped being Roman by 600 CE.
Carolus revived Roman empire by 800 CE.