790-809 Charlemagne Crowned Holy Roman Emperor
This twenty year period covers the crowning in 800 of
Charlemagne (pictured), a Frank, as the northern emperor by Pope Leo III.
It also covers the reign of the West Saxon King Beorhtric who
died in 802 and was succeeded as king of the English by Egbert.
In 795 the Norsemen raidedIreland
and Pope Leo III succeeded Pope Hadrian.
In 795 the Norsemen raided
Pope Leo III was disliked by the Roman aristocracy --
particularly Pope Hadrian's family -- and in 799 Pope Leo III was attacked by
thugs.
He fled to Germany to seek Charlemagne's protection and
charges of adultery and perjury against him were set aside by Charlemagne and
in gratitude Pope Leo III crowned him Western Emperor (actually, the first Holy
Roman Emperor).
By allyingRome with Germany
- and becoming subject to German rule - Pope Leo III may have declared Rome 's independence from Constantinople
but he merely exchanged one master in the East for another one in the West and
in doing so he can be attributed with starting western civilization as we know
it, with German ascendancy.
By allying
Labels: 790, beorhtric, charlemagne, pope leo iii
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