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768) and Charles Martel (714-741),
the Frankish state has greatly ex–
panded in size. Its rulers are success–
ful conquerors, patrons of the arts
and learning, champions of the
Church and protectors of the weak.
As a result, they are increasingly
looked to as stabilizing and protec–
tive forces in Western Europe.
Meanwhile, Byzantium finds its
role as a world power constantly
shrinking. Thougb still recognized
as the eastern successor of the old
Roman Eropire, it is in deep politi–
cal trouble. Byzantium becoroes
more of a Greek kingdom than a
universal Roman empire.
The papacy seeks to exclude the
Byzantines from the Italian penin–
sula and to establish the pope as
their successor. The attempt to le–
galize this concept is seen in an ex–
traordinary document, the forged
Donation of Constantine. The falsi–
fication takes place between 750 and
760.
.
In 774, Cbarlemagne overthrows
the Lombard kingdom after its two
hundred years in power. Charles has
united Italy for the first time in cen–
turies. He is now the only true sov–
ereign in the West and commands
its most formidable military ma–
cbine.
By 796, Pope Leo III (795-816)
begins dating bis edicts, not from
the beginning of his reign or that of
the Byzantine emperor, but from
that of Charles. The ruler of Byzan–
tium is willing to recognize Charles'
presence in Italy. Charles' name
even begins to appear regularly in
the liturgy of the Roman Church.
Up until this time, such a practice
had been reserved solely for Roman
emperors.
Year 799: Tbe Crisis of Pope Leo
at Rome. In 799, an event occurs
which will result in the crowning of
Charlemagne as
imperator Romano–
rum
-
Roman emperor. On April
25, 799, Pope Leo III is participating
in a procession from the Lateran to
tbe Church of Sao Lorenzo in Lu–
cina. He is assaulted and beaten ter-
24
ribly by a band of conspirators; the
gang tries to gouge out bis eyes and
cut out bis tongue. He is then im–
prisoned and accused of adultery
and perjury.
Leo barely survives the ordeal,
escapes from prison and calls out to
Charles, who is fighting the Saxons.
Charlemagne invites the Pope to
come to Paderborn in tbe heart of
Saxony to explain bis case. This he
does. The image of a pope humbly
asking Charles for assistance pro–
duces a powerful impression. Angil–
bert, a court poet writes, "King
Charles, supreme in the world and
the mightiest of Europe." On two
occasions, the poet uses the words
"the great Augustus" when referring–
to Charles.
In the autumn of 799, Charles ar–
ranges for the Pope to return to bis
capital, protected by Frankish
troops. Charles will follow in order
to determine the guilt or innocence
of the Pope himself. The Pope is not
exonerated until the convening of a
court of inquiry over which Charles
presides. Leo is publicly restored to
grace on December 23, after three
weeks of inquest.
The Pope's humbling claim of in–
nocency is given in the following
words: "1 Leo, pontiff of the Holy
Roman Church, without being
judged or compelled by anyone, but
by an act of spontaneous will, purify
and purge myself in your pres–
ence ... and 1 declare that 1 have
not perpetrated or ordered to be
perpetrated the criminal and sinful
acts which have been charged
against me...."
The Pope, obviously, is making
bis independence clear. But the rela–
tionship of Charles to the Pope is
clearly seen: Leo must accept the
intervention of the Frankish mon–
arch, even in bis own prívate life.
Perhaps by coincidence, a delega–
tion arrives at Rome from Jerusa–
lem, bringing Charles a banner and
the keys to the Holy Sepulchre of
the Church of the Calvary and to
the Holy City itself. Tbis is done on
behalf of the patriarch of Jerusalem.
Significantly, on the same day,
Charlemagne has received the hom–
age of both the leader of Western
Christianity and the Christians of
the East.
Year 800, Cbristmas: Cbarle–
magne Crowned Emperor. The stage
is set for the final act in the drama:
the imperial coronation. lt will be
the quintessence of political legiti–
macy. Though Charles might wield
imperial power, he is still a barbar–
ían king. This is all to be changed
on December 24, A.D. 800 when
Charles is crowned Roman em–
peror.
Charles has come to St. Peter's for
the Christmas festival celebration.
He kneels in prayer just befare the
celebration of Mass at the "con–
fession" of the prince of the
apostles. As he raises himself, Pope
Leo quickly approaches and places
a crown on bis head. The throng, in
a rehearsed tone, shouts three times,
"To Charles Augustus, crowned by
God, great and peaceful emperor of
the Romans, life and victory."
Charles is now
imperator et au–
gustus.
The ceremony will be portrayed
in the
Liber pontificalis,
under the
biography of Pope Leo
lii:
"Tbe
gracious and venerable pontiff who
with bis own hands crowned him
[Charles] witb a very precious
crown. Then all the faithful people
of Rome . .. cried with one accord
in a loud voice: To Charles, the
most pious Augustus ... and he was
constituted by all to be Emperor of
the Romans."
The Pope prostrates bimself be–
fare the new Augustus. This cere–
mony is required by the ancient
imperial protocol inaugurated un–
der Diocletian. Nevertheless, it is
quite clear: the kingdoms of this
earth belong to tbe bishop of Rome;
they are
his
to give.
The record of the event is scanty.
Later, Einhard in bis
LiJe of Charle–
magne
will write: "He accepted the
title of emperor and augustus. But
PLAIN TRUTH November 1973