Definition: In 800 C.E., Charlemagne was crowned Holy
Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III. This coronation took place at St. Peter’s
Basilica and gave a new title to a ruler who already exuded power and strength
over his conquered territories. This kind of title given by the pope was not
new for the Carolingian Dynasty; Charlemagne’s father Pippin deposed the
Merovingian king and called on Pope Stephen II to authorize him as king
(medievalists.net)
Importance: This title gave Charlemagne the legitimacy that he needed to secure
his position as emperor. This kind of validation worked well for both
Charlemagne and Pope Leo. Charlemagne received the blessing and acceptance of
the Catholic Church, which held much weight amongst newcomers to the empire.
People who were skeptical of Charlemagne himself may have supported him because
of his alliance with the pope. This worked well for Pope Leo III because it
gave power to the papacy. The fact that Charlemagne needed permission from the
pope to become emperor demonstrates just how much power the pope had even
though his power was contained to religious decisions. This affiliation between
the emperor and the pope shows just how tightly the church and state were
intertwined in the Middle Ages.
source: http://www.medievalists.net/2010/12/22/the-significance-of-the-coronation-of-charlemagne/
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