Charlemagne also placed immense value on the practice of Christianity, and through various edicts and laws, succeeded in its integration into daily life. Charlemagne died at Aechen, his capitol, in 814. He was succeeded by his son Louis, a well-intentioned but feeble prince, in whose reign the fabric reared by Charlemagne began rapidly to crumble.
An important aspect of Charlemagne's world view is his great value of education. Charlemagne was a great believer in learning, or "studium" (Almedingen 219). To reflect this great passion, in 787 Charles issued a directive to all bishops and abbots on the study of letters. The directive forced all churchmen to adequately develop their reading and writing skills, and to study grammar, music, and arithmetic. Charlemagne was shocked by the overwhelming illiteracy rate of the population; only the clerics were capable of reading and writing. To facilitate their enlightenment, Charlemagne set up a school at the Royal Palace in Aachen. Imported scholars, including Alcuin of York, and Paul the Deacon of Montecasino, worked with Charlemagne to help him facilitate the school's success. Charlemagne was especially intent on furthering the intelligence of his own children, so, he immediately enrolled them in his school. "The plan that he adopted for his children's education was, first above all, to have both boys and girls instructed in the liberal arts, to which he also turned his own attention (Einhard 52). The palace school became "a veritable hotbed of literacy and intellectualism," and the forerunner of educational reform throughout the nation (Durant 190). As the new thirst for knowledge increased among Charlemagne's subjects, he imported scholars from Ireland, Britain, and Italy, whose countries were notorious for their cultural superiority, to teach in his courts. These scholars ultimately "fostered the framework for the great universities of Europe" (Durant 202).
