History 103
The Making of Europe
Charlemagne:
A New David for the New Rome
Christmas Day, 800
Life of Pope Leo III (d. 816)
On the day of the Nativity of our Lord
Jesus Christ all [who had been present
at the council] came together again in
the same basilica of blessed Peter the
apostle. And then the venerable and
holy pontiff, with his own hands,
crowned [Charles] with a most
precious crown. Then all the faithful
Romans, seeing how he loved the holy
Roman church and its vicar and how
he defended them, cried out with one
voice by the will of God and of St.
Peter, the key-bearer of the kingdom
of heaven, "To Charles, most pious
Augustus, crowned by God, great and
peace-loving
emperor,
life
and
victory."(Salus et victoria) This was said
three times before the sacred tomb of
blessed Peter the apostle, with the
invocation of many saints, and he was
constituted by all as emperor of the
Romans. Thereupon, on that same day
of the nativity of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the most holy bishop and
pontiff anointed his most excellent
son Charles as king with holy oil.
Written by chroniclers
associated with the papacy
Written by royal/imperial
chroniclers
Frankish Royal Annals (801)
On the most holy day of the Nativity
of the Lord when the king rose from
praying at Mass before the tomb of
blessed Peter the Apostle, Pope Leo
placed a crown on his head and all the
Roman people cried out, "To Charles
Augustus, crowned by God, great and
peace giving emperor of the Romans,
life and victory." And after the
laudation he was adored by the pope in
the manner of the ancient princes and,
the title of Patrician being set aside,
he was called emperor and Augustus.
Written by Frankish chroniclers
Annales Laureshamenses
Since the title of emperor had become extinct among the Greeks and a woman
(Empress Irene) claimed the imperial authority, it seemed to Pope Leo and to all the
holy fathers who were present at the council and to the rest of the Christian people
that Charles, king of the Franks, ought to be named emperor, for he held Rome itself
where the Caesars were always accustomed to reside and also other cities in Italy,
Gaul and Germany. Since almighty God had put all these places in his power it
seemed fitting to them that, with the help of God, and in accordance with the
request of all the Christian people, he should hold this title. King Charles did not
wish to refuse their petition, and, humbly submitting himself to God and to the
petition of all the Christian priests and people, he accepted the title of emperor on
the day of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ and was consecrated by Pope Leo.
Theophanes’ Chronicle (Byzantine):
In this year in the month of December Charles, the king of the Franks, was crowned
by Pope Leo.
Merovingian Chancery Script (Paris BN Lat. 9427 f. 230r):
Charlemagne’s signature
Carolingian minuscule book hand (Schøyen Collection Ms. 1277)
Written by chroniclers
associated with the
Byzantine emperors