Editing Symbols of Europe (section)

==Pater Europae==
{{Further|Charlemagne}}
[[Charlemagne]] ({{langx|la|Carolus Magnus}}; [[List of Frankish kings|King of the Franks]] from 768; [[Holy Roman Emperor]] c. 742{{spaced ndash}}814), also known as Charles the Great, is considered the founder of the [[List of French monarchs|French]] and [[List of German monarchs|German]] monarchies. Known as ''Pater Europae'' («Father of Europe»),<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.karlspreis.de/preistraeger/seine_heiligkeit_papst_johannes_paul_ii/ansprache_von_seiner_heiligkeit_papst_johannes_paul_ii.html |title=Der Karlspreisträger Seine Heiligkeit Papst Johannes Paul II. außerordentlicher Karlspreis 2004 |publisher=Karlspreis.de |access-date=2012-01-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117151907/http://www.karlspreis.de/preistraeger/seine_heiligkeit_papst_johannes_paul_ii/ansprache_von_seiner_heiligkeit_papst_johannes_paul_ii.html |archive-date=17 January 2012 }}</ref> he established [[Carolingian Empire|an empire]] that represented the most expansive European unification since the [[fall of the Western Roman Empire]] and brought about [[Carolingian Renaissance|a renaissance]] that formed a pan-European identity whilst marking the end of [[Early Middle Ages|Late Antiquity]].<ref name="ReferenceA">Riché, Preface xviii, Pierre Riché reflects: "[H]e enjoyed an exceptional destiny, and by the length of his reign, by his conquests, legislation and legendary stature, he also profoundly marked the history of Western Europe."</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.humnet.ucla.edu/santiago/histchrl.html|title=Home – Humanities Division – UCLA|website=Humanities Division – UCLA}}</ref> There was also a contemporary intellectual and cultural revival which profoundly marked the history of Western Europe. This gave Charlemagne a legendary standing that transcended his military accomplishments.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.karlspreis.de/preistraeger/seine_heiligkeit_papst_johannes_paul_ii/ansprache_von_seiner_heiligkeit_papst_johannes_paul_ii.html |title=karlspreis.de |publisher=karlspreis.de |access-date=2012-01-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117151907/http://www.karlspreis.de/preistraeger/seine_heiligkeit_papst_johannes_paul_ii/ansprache_von_seiner_heiligkeit_papst_johannes_paul_ii.html |archive-date=17 January 2012 }}</ref><ref>Chamberlin, Russell, ''The Emperor Charlemagne'', p. ???</ref>

[[File:Aachen Domschatz Bueste1.jpg|thumb|upright|Reliquary, golden bust of Charlemagne wearing the Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire in [[Aachen Cathedral]], with the German [[reichsadler]] embossed on the metal and the French [[fleur-de-lis]] embroidered on the fabric]]

For many centuries, European royal houses sought to associate themselves with the Carolingian heritage. The crowns of the [[Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire|Holy Roman Empire]] and [[Crown of Napoleon|Napoleon Bonaparte]] were for instance both respectively named "The Crown of Charlemagne", and Charlemagne's personal sword, ''[[Joyeuse]]'', served as a coronation sword for French kings from the 11th century onwards.<ref>[http://www.louvre.fr/llv/oeuvres/detail_notice.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673226044&CURRENT_LLV_NOTICE%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673226044&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=9852723696500909&bmLocale=en Coronation sword and scabbard of the Kings of France], Decorative Arts : Early Middle Ages, Louvre</ref> The cult of Charlemagne was further embellished by the French renaissance author [[Jean Lemaire de Belges]], who postulated that the emperor was part of an illustrious ''[[translatio imperii]]'' originating with King [[Priam]] of [[Troy]] during the [[Trojan Wars]], and thus by extension [[Zeus]], the "Father of Gods and men" in [[Greek Mythology]].

Today, much of the pan-European, symbolic value of Charlemagne is attributed to the fact that he is considered an embodiment of the Franco-German friendship which was absent during [[French–German enmity|the long-lasting enmity]] which culminated in the two world wars, but has become indispensable in the process of [[European integration]]. Thus, in the 1952 design competition for the Council of Europe's flag, several of the unsuccessful proposals were redolent of the ''[[Oriflamme]]''; the banner given to Charlemagne by [[Pope Leo III]] at his coronation in the [[St. Peter's Basilica]] in the year 800.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cvce.eu/obj/proposals_for_european_flags_from_arsene_heitz_1952_1955-en-3c8f111a-6be6-4111-a433-20f1a7f9fdba.html |title=Proposals for European flags from Arsène Heitz (1952–1955) |date=8 November 2011 |publisher=cvce.eu |access-date=2013-08-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cvce.eu/obj/proposals_for_european_flags_from_arsene_heitz_1952_1955-en-3c8f111a-6be6-4111-a433-20f1a7f9fdba.html |title=Proposals for European flags from Arsène Heitz (1952–1955) |publisher=cvce.eu |date=5 January 1952 |access-date=2013-08-06}}</ref> Similarities between Charlemagne's empire and the modern European integration were also suggested by professor Hans von Hentig the same year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cvce.eu/obj/charlemagne_and_coke_from_the_frankfurter_allgemeine_zeitung_5_january_1952-en-7dc178c9-ddfd-416d-8106-b14229d2d59d.html |title='Charlemagne and coke' from the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (5 January 1952) |publisher=cvce.eu |access-date=2013-08-06}}</ref> The [[European Commission]] is also alluding to Charlemagne by means of naming one of its central buildings in Brussels after him (The [[Charlemagne building]]). The German city of [[Aachen]] has since 1949 annually awarded the [[Charlemagne Prize]] to champions of European unity, including [[Alcide De Gasperi]], [[Jean Monnet]] and the [[euro]] itself. Each edition of the international affairs newspaper ''[[The Economist]]'' features a column called «Charlemagne's notebook», focusing on European Union affairs.<ref>[https://www.economist.com/blogs/charlemagne «Must try harder»]. ''The Economist''.</ref> In his speech at the award ceremony for the 2010 [[European Charlemagne Youth Prize|Charlemagne Youth Prize]], [[President of the European Parliament|European Parliament President]] [[Jerzy Buzek]] said the following:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/president/view/en/press/speeches/sp-2010/sp-2010-May/speeches-2010-May-7.html |title=europarl.europa.eu |publisher=europarl.europa.eu |date=11 May 2010 |access-date=2012-01-01}}</ref>
{{cquote|Imagine, if you will, the age of Charlemagne, twelve hundred years ago. Already then, he had a vision of a united Europe. Just think how many wars there have been since then and how much European blood has been spilled. We were devoured by hatred. We were in the grip of our emotions. We were unable to think in common. People had a vision of a united Europe then, but did not achieve it. We must remember, my dear young friends, always to keep this vision in mind.}}

Later monarchs who also have carried [[sobriquet]]s as "relatives" of Europe include [[Queen Victoria]] of the United Kingdom (''[[grandmother of Europe]]''), [[Christian IX of Denmark]] and [[Nicholas I of Montenegro]] (both respectively ''[[father-in-law of Europe]]''). These late 19th and early 20th century sobriquets are however purely on account of the marriage of these monarchs' offspring to foreign princes and princesses, and involve no wider symbolism.