For one thing, the popes owed the Franks a great debt for their preservation in recent years. Another reason for the pope to crown Charles was to show Rome's independence from the Greek Empire in Constantinople. Since the days of Constantine in the fourth century, the eastern part of the Roman Empire had increased in authority and power. In Charles, King of the Franks, the pope had found a new Constantine to head a revived western empire.
To be sure, Charles was an empire-builder. He had become master of the French kingdom in and used his military might to forcibly bring the German tribes under his authority, forcing them to accept baptism and become Christians.
His cruelty has been blamed for the Viking invasions which troubled Europe for over a century. Charles worked diligently to provide a good, unified organization for his vast empire. When King Charles returned to France after being crowned emperor, he forced his subjects to take an oath to him as Caesar.
He re-established the Roman Empire on a Teutonic base. The coronation of Charles sparked much debate during the middle ages.
At issue was what relationship of the church to state. We're not done yet! Your opinion can help us make it better. We use cookies to improve our service for you. You can find more information in our data protection declaration.
Peter's Basilica in Rome, making him the most powerful ruler of his time. In November , Charlemagne ca. The pope had summoned him, because he could no longer fend off his enemies in the city. After Charlemagne calmed representatives from both sides and had Leo take an oath of purgation concerning charges of adultery and perjury brought against him, the two rulers attended a Christmas mass in St.
Those in attendance that Christmas Eve found themselves witness to a show of historical dimensions. According to the court chronicler Einhart ca. Charlemagne's biographer was keen to convey the impression that the king was surprised by the coronation. It's probable that Charlemagne had speculated on the likelihood of receiving the crown; the pope was, after all, in need of the kind of assistance only the King of the Franks could offer.
As soon as the crown was in position, the pope was on his knees, anointing the feet of the new emperor. At the same time, so the account goes, hefty applause broke out among the Romans in attendance, while the clergy began the coronation litany. With this ceremony, the King of the Franks became a Roman Emperor, with a vast swath of Europe under his rule. The core of his new realm was formed by those countries which, around 1, years later, would make up the European Economic Community: France, Germany, the Benelux states and Italy.
Immediately after the coronation, Charlemagne introduced a common currency, written language and measurements in Francia. Soon after becoming king, he conquered the Lombards in present-day northern Italy , the Avars in modern-day Austria and Hungary and Bavaria, among others.
Charlemagne waged a bloody, three-decades-long series of battles against the Saxons, a Germanic tribe of pagan worshippers, and earned a reputation for ruthlessness. In at the Massacre of Verden, Charlemagne reportedly ordered the slaughter of some 4, Saxons.
In his personal life, Charlemagne had multiple wives and mistresses and perhaps as many as 18 children. He allegedly loved his daughters so much that he prohibited them from marrying while he was alive.
Einhard c. In his role as a zealous defender of Christianity, Charlemagne gave money and land to the Christian church and protected the popes. As emperor, Charlemagne proved to be a talented diplomat and able administrator of the vast area he controlled. He promoted education and encouraged the Carolingian Renaissance, a period of renewed emphasis on scholarship and culture.
He instituted economic and religious reforms, and was a driving force behind the Carolingian miniscule, a standardized form of writing that later became a basis for modern European printed alphabets.
Charlemagne ruled from a number of cities and palaces, but spent significant time in Aachen. His palace there included a school, for which he recruited the best teachers in the land.
In addition to learning, Charlemagne was interested in athletic pursuits. Known to be highly energetic, he enjoyed hunting, horseback riding and swimming.
Aachen held particular appeal for him due to its therapeutic warm springs. According to Einhard, Charlemagne was in good health until the final four years of his life, when he often suffered from fevers and acquired a limp.
In , Charlemagne crowned his son Louis the Pious , king of Aquitaine, as co-emperor. Louis became sole emperor when Charlemagne died in January , ending his reign of more than four decades.
At the time of his death, his empire encompassed much of Western Europe. Charlemagne was buried at the cathedral in Aachen.
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