Charlemagne Prize facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Charlemagne Prize
Presented by	Society for the Conferring of the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen
Location	Aachen, Germany
First awarded	1 May 1950; 75 years ago (1950-05-01)
Currently held by	Pinchas Goldschmidt and the Jewish communities in Europe

The old city seal of Aachen, which inspired the prize medal's design

The Charlemagne Prize (called Karlspreis in German) is a special award given to people who have done great things to help unite Europe. It has been awarded every year since 1950 by the German city of Aachen.

The prize is named after Charlemagne, a powerful ruler who lived a long time ago. He was the first to bring much of Western Europe together after the Roman Empire fell. Aachen was once a very important city during his rule.

The award ceremony usually happens on Ascension Day at the Aachen Town Hall. In 2008, a new award was created called the European Charlemagne Youth Prize. This prize celebrates young people who help bring Europe closer together. Important people like King Philippe of Belgium, King Felipe VI of Spain, and Henri, the Grand Duke of Luxembourg support the Charlemagne Prize.

Why the Prize Started

The city hall of Aachen, where the award ceremony takes place

The idea for the Charlemagne Prize came from a man named Kurt Pfeiffer in 1949. He wanted to create an award for people who worked towards "Western European understanding and community." He also wanted to honor those who helped humanity and world peace.

The city of Aachen, which gives out the prize, sees Charlemagne as a "Founder of Western Culture". They believe that under his leadership, Aachen was a key center for culture and politics in what is now Western Europe.

The very first Charlemagne Prize was given to Richard von Coudenhove-Kalergi. He started the Pan-European Movement, which aimed to unite European countries.

What the Prize Means

The Charlemagne Prize is more than just an award. It sends a strong message about the importance of European unity. The list of winners shows the journey of how Europe has become more integrated over time.

Many winners are considered "founding fathers" of a United Europe. These include leaders like Alcide De Gasperi, Robert Schuman, Jean Monnet, and Konrad Adenauer. Others, like Edward Heath and Juan Carlos I, have represented the hope for a more united Europe.

The people who organize the prize say it's not just about thanking people for their past efforts. It's also about encouraging future work and showing hope for what Europe can become. Kurt Pfeiffer, the founder, once said that the prize "reaches into the future." He believed it was a promise for European countries to come together freely. This unity would help them protect important values like freedom, humanity, and peace for future generations.

In 2008, the organizers and the European Parliament started the European Charlemagne Youth Prize. This award highlights the efforts of young people in bringing Europe closer.

Who Has Won the Prize

Prize Winners by Country

Country	Number
Germany	9
France
Italy	5
United Kingdom
Spain	4
Belgium	3
United States
Netherlands
Luxembourg
Vatican	2
Hungary
Austria
Switzerland
Poland
Europe
Ireland	1
Czech Republic
Portugal
Norway
Lithuania
Denmark
Greece
Romania
Belarus
Ukraine
Russia

Images for kids

• 

  Leaders and important people gathered after the Charlemagne Prize ceremony in 2015.

• 

  Paul-Henri Spaak at the 1957 award ceremony.

• 

  Bill Clinton, who received the prize in 2000, with other past winners.

• 

  Angela Merkel wearing the prize medal in 2008.

See Also

• European Charlemagne Youth Prize
• European integration