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This is part 2 of a 2-part article. Part 1 appeared on May 16, 2003.

Several weeks ago, British Prime Minister Tony Blair stated he would be judged on the Iraq war by "my Maker." This gave some of his closest advisors fits. But the record shows that some of the West's greatest leaders have been praying people—and that this has not necessarily been a bad thing.

Last week we looked at the Roman emperors Constantine, Theodosius I, and Justinian I. This week, we jump forward in time to three pious European leaders: the Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne, the French King Louis IX, and England's Elizabeth I.

Though none of these monarchs was a perfect Christian (there is, of course, no such thing!), nor a perfect ruler, the faith of each made a difference to the way they conducted their political business.

Charlemagne (742-814) was the grandson of Charles Martel ("Hammer"), defender of Anglo-Saxon missionaries and defeater of the Muslim Saracens. Educated by his mother, Bertrada, and the monks of Saint Denis, he became sole ruler of the Franks when his brother Carloman died in 771.

For the next decade and more, Charlemagne fought and won wars that expanded his control in all directions—most notably, among the Saxons just below modern Denmark. Everywhere he conquered, he converted his new subjects, in the day's accepted manner: at the point of a sword. Pope Hadrian, who himself was rescued by Charles from Lombard aggressors, called Charlemagne "another Constantine, who has risen in our times."

The greatest triumph of Charlemagne's career came at Christmas in the year 800, when Pope Leo III crowned him "Emperor of the Romans." The monarch treasured this title for reasons not merely political. Charles was a great student of Augustine's City of God, and believed that church and state should join forces in the interests of social stability and reform. He described the goal of this union in a letter to Pope Leo: "that the … name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified throughout the world."

In pursuit of that goal, Charles also directed a revision of the text of the Bible, made changes to the liturgy, created monastic rules, and dismissed priests deficient in learning or piety. He had his deacon, Paul, publish a collection of homilies for use throughout the kingdom, instructing him to "peruse the writings of the Catholic fathers and, as in a flowery meadow, pick the choicest blooms and weave a single garland of all that can be put to use." For such religious reforms as much as for his military exploits, Charles gained his moniker "Charles the Great"—Charlemagne.

France's Louis IX (1214-1270) was that rare thing—a king who truly acted like a saint. He wore hair shirts and visited hospitals, sometimes emptying the bedpans. He collected relics and built a chapel to house them. Raised by his devout mother, Queen Blanche, to be strictly religious, Louis found himself king at the age of 12. Eight years later, he married Margaret of Provence ("a girl of pretty face, but prettier faith"), to whom he quickly became devoted. She bore him 11 children, and Louis took them all along when he left on a crusade.

Throughout his reign, Louis lived his faith, and his reputation spread. In 1242 recovered from a serious illness, and as thanks to God, launched a crusade into Egypt. When this holy mission failed miserably, Louis blamed himself for the loss, believing God was punishing him for his sins. He began dressing plainly, eating simply, and helping the poor. Instead of going home from the crusade, Louis took his army to Palestine, where they built walls and towers around several coastal cities. He stayed four years, returning to France only upon hearing of the death of his mother.

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May (Web-only) 2003, Vol. 47