Editing Charlemagne (section)

== Name ==
Several languages were spoken in Charlemagne's world, and he was known to contemporaries as {{lang|goh|Karlus}} in the [[Old High German]] he spoke; as {{lang|fro|Karlo}} to [[Old French#History|Early Old French]] (or [[Proto-Romance]]) speakers; and as {{lang|la|Carolus}} (or {{lang|la|Karolus}}) in [[Medieval Latin]], the formal language of writing and diplomacy.{{sfn|Nelson|2019|pp=2, 68}}{{sfn|McKitterick|2008|p=116}} ''Charles'' is the modern English form of these names. The name {{lang|fr|Charlemagne}}, as the emperor is normally known in English, comes from the French {{lang|fr|Charles-le-magne}} ('Charles the Great').{{sfn|Nelson|2019|p=2}} In modern German and Dutch, he is known as {{lang|de|Karl der Große}} and {{lang|nl|Karel de Grote}} respectively.{{sfn|Fried|2016|p=529}} The Latin [[epithet]] {{lang|la|magnus}} ('great') may have been associated with him during his lifetime, but this is not certain. The contemporary ''[[Royal Frankish Annals]]'' routinely call him {{lang|la|Carolus magnus rex}} ("Charles the great king").{{sfn|Barbero|2004|p=413}} That epithet is attested in the works of the [[Poeta Saxo]] around 900, and it had become commonly applied to him by 1000.{{sfn|Fried|2016|p=4}}

Charlemagne was named after his grandfather, [[Charles Martel]].{{sfn|Becher|2005|pp=42–43}} That name, and its derivatives, are unattested before their use by Charles Martel and Charlemagne.{{sfn|Nonn|2008|p=575}} ''Karolus'' was adapted by Slavic languages as their word for "king" ({{langx|ru|korol'}}, {{langx|pl|król}} and {{langx|sk|král}}) through Charlemagne's influence or that of his great-grandson, [[Charles the Fat]].{{sfn|Fried|2016|p=5}}