Charlemagne and his empire? Accomplishments and downfall?

Question:

Charlemagne and his empire? Accomplishments and downfall?

Describe the origin and accomplishments of Charlemagne's empire. What accounted for its fall?

I think I might got the origin and accomplishment right, but I'm not sure. I didnt get the downfall tho...if anybody can help, it'll be great. thanks in advance...btw, if u have already taken AP Euro, maybe u might remember this question from the Palmer book.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Pepin the Short, Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia (the western part of Frankland) sent a message to the Pope of those days asking, "Who should be the king? He who has the title, or he who has the power?" The Pope replied in favor of Pepin, who became king of the Franks instead of the last Merovingian king. The sons of Pepin were Karl (later Charlemagne) and Karloman, who became joint kings of the Franks. After awhile, Karl supplanted Carloman. On Christmas Day, 800, the Pope crowned Karl Roman Emperor. Charlemagne lived so long that he was succeeded by his grandson, Lewis the Pious. When Lewis died, the Frankish kingdom was divided among his sons, Lewis the German (East Frankland), Charles the Fat (west Frankland), and Lothar (Lotharingia). By about 987, the successors of Charlemagne had died out. So the nobles of France elected Hugh Capet king of France. The successors of Hugh Capet ruled until 1789.