Monarchs Monarchs have been pivotal factors in shaping the future directions and potential of their nations. Alexander the Great and Charles the Great were monarchs who through their leadership changed history in a positive way. Alexander III was born in 356 BC, son of the king of Macedon, Philip II and Olympias, a princess from Epirus. "Alexander learned from his father that he was the descendant of Hercules, the son of Zeus, and from his mother …showed first 75 words of 1668 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1668 total…Leo III; making him the 1st Holy Roman Emperor "this also meant Roman universalism was fused with Christian universalism."(Perry) Charlemagne reigned from 768-814, although his empire did not sustain long after his death; it was through his leadership that learning and order were restored to Medieval Europe and a cultural revolution of a stagnant people was started. He spread Christianity throughout his entire empire, all these things laying the foundation for the Middle Ages.