Pope Leo III crowned the conqueror of Italy, Charlemagne, Imperator Augustus as a rival of the Byzantine Emperor in Constantinople.
Charlemagne was the first Western Emperor of Rome in 300 years. His rule is associated with the Carolingian Renaissance, a revival of art, religion, education, and book and library culture through the medium of the Catholic Church.
Through his foreign conquests and internal reforms Charlemagne united most of Western Europe for the first time since the Romans, encouraging the formation of a common European identity.
Filed under: Social / Political
