In the year 800 on Christmas day Pope Leo III placed a crown on the head of the Frankish king Charlemagne making him Emperor and Augustus. The circumstances of this coronation have caused speculation as to what Charlemagne’s motivation was in regards to helping the pope in his time of need. There were multiple points of view recorded about the event.1
Einhard was Charlemagne’s biographer who wrote The Life of Charlemagne which cast the Charlemagne in the best possible light. Einhard reported that Charlemagne would have not gone into the Cathedral that day if he had known what Leo had planned to do.2 Leo’s account of the event did not speak of Charlemagne’s reluctance to be Emperor and Augustus. Leo’s account did extol the piety of Charlemagne. Leo proclaimed that Charlemagne was crowned by God and reminding everybody that it was within his power to crown him in the name of God because he was the keeper to the keys of heaven.3 The Annals of Lorsch pointed out that there was a need for Charlemagne because the land of the Greeks had a woman for an emperor. The Annals of Lorsch did not only speak about Charlemagne’s reluctance to be crowned but also that his motivation was that he did not want to disappoint the people by refusing. This accounting also spoke to Charlemagne’s humility because it said that he subjected himself to not only the will of God but also the will of the people.4 Theophanes was a chronicler from Byzantium who had a different point of view on Charlemagne’s coronation. His account shows that the Byzantines felt they already had an Emperor and did not need another one. Theophanes talked about how Leo fled to Charlemagne after the people rose up against him and how Charlemagne was recompensed by being crowned. On definition of the word recompensed is payment in return for something, such as a service. Theopanes is saying that the crown was Charlemagne’s payment for restoring Leo to power.5 These different accounts of the coronation are important for a number of reasons. Four different lenses are viewing the same event with their own bias, values, and agendas. These variables provide perspectives from different points of view. When there are more than one accounting it allow the researcher to find common facts. While one can speculate on Charlemagne’s intentions all four sources agree that he was crowned by Leo for example.
Charlemagne came to the aide of the church, or more specifically Leo lll, and was crowned by Leo who was acting according to God’s will. Charlemagne used Constantine’s model to become the religious and political leader. Charlemagne was able to use Gods authority to back up his laws. By setting out to Christianize the empire Charlemagne was able to claim that he was doing God’s work while expanding his borders while gaining resources such as land, raw materials, and labor. Einhard points out the barbarous and Pagan ways of the Saxons which opposed the will of God. Einhard also points out that once the Saxons convert they are one with the Frankish people.6
The Capitulary of Saxony Laid out what behavior was legal, illegal, or punishable in respect to religious beliefs and practices. These laws would become a binding force for his Christian empire. The punishments for refusing to conform to Christian rules were made clear. The Capitulary of Saxony also denies the Saxons the right to assemble without permission. By basing these laws on the best interests of Christianity Charlemagne can claim that he protecting and Spreading Christianity throughout his empire. He keeps the support of the church by spreading Christianity and expanding his empire at the same time.7
Charlemagne used many ideas the Roman Empire had before him. The sheer size of Charlemagne’s empire and the fact that he reunited many territories formerly under Roman rule made it similar to the Roman Empire. When he expanded his empire and Charlemagne needed a common binding force for the areas he had taken over. The Romans used