The Coronation of Charlemagne (800 AD): A Turning Point in Church History

The Coronation of Charlemagne (800 AD): A Turning Point in Church History

The Coronation of Charlemagne on Christmas Day, 800 AD, in St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome, was a very important moment in the history of Christianity. Pope Leo III crowned the Frankish King Charlemagne as “Emperor of the Romans”. This simple action created a new empire in Western Europe, ended the political connection with the Byzantine Empire in the East, and changed forever how the Church and rulers (kings and emperors) worked together.

The Historical Context (What was happening before 800 AD)

• Before this event, the Popes in Rome still accepted the Byzantine Emperor in Constantinople as the highest ruler.
• The Pope faced big problems: Lombard invaders (a group of warriors) attacked parts of Italy, and the Byzantine Empire gave no help.
• There were also big arguments about religious images (called iconoclasm – people fighting over whether pictures of Jesus and saints should be used in churches).
• Because of these troubles and weaknesses in the East, the Pope looked north to the strong Frankish kingdom for protection.
• In 799 AD, Pope Leo III was attacked by his enemies in Rome. He escaped and asked Charlemagne for help. Charlemagne came, put Leo back on the papal throne, and protected him.
• On Christmas Day 800 AD, during the church service (Mass), Pope Leo III suddenly put the imperial crown on Charlemagne’s head. He declared him emperor. The people in the church shouted, “Life and victory to Charles Augustus, crowned by God, great and peaceful Emperor of the Romans!”

A Definitive Break from the Byzantine East

• This coronation showed that the Pope no longer accepted the Byzantine Emperor’s authority.
• Pope Leo III said the throne in Constantinople was “vacant” (empty) or not valid, because a woman (Empress Irene) ruled alone after she blinded her own son in 797 AD to take power.
• By crowning Charlemagne, the Pope brought back the idea of the Western Roman Empire (later called the Holy Roman Empire).
• This created a new Christian empire in the West to stand against the one in the East.
• It separated the Latin-speaking West (using the Latin language) from the Greek-speaking East politically. This separation helped lead to the Great Schism (big split) of 1054, when the Western (Catholic) and Eastern (Orthodox) Churches officially divided.

Why This Event Is Important in Church History

• Established Papal Supremacy over Secular Rulers
  • The Pope putting the crown on the emperor showed that spiritual power (the Pope’s authority) was higher than earthly power (the emperor’s authority).
  • This idea became very important later: the Pope could give the crown or take it away. It caused big fights between popes and emperors in later centuries (for example, the Investiture Controversy – a long argument about who could appoint bishops).
• Created the Concept of “Christendom”
  • 'Christendom' means a society where Christianity is the main religion and the Church and state work closely together.
  • Charlemagne saw himself as a holy king, like King David or King Josiah in the Bible.
  • He believed he was responsible for both the spiritual life (faith, worship) and the everyday life (laws, protection) of Christians in his empire.
  • This created a united Christian society in Western Europe for many centuries.
• Theological Independence and the Filioque Clause
  • Because the West was now politically free from the East, Western theologians (church thinkers) felt free to make changes.
  • They added the word “filioque” (Latin for “and the Son”) to the Nicene Creed, saying the Holy Spirit comes from the Father “and the Son”.
  • The Eastern Church strongly disagreed with this change. It became one of the main reasons for the Great Schism of 1054.
• Strengthened the Papal-Frankish Alliance
  • Charlemagne protected the Pope and officially confirmed the Papal States (lands in Italy given by his father, Pepin).
  • This alliance made the Pope independent from the Byzantine Empire and tied the Western Church closely to the Frankish rulers (later called the Carolingian dynasty).
• Laid Foundations for the Medieval Church
  • Charlemagne’s empire encouraged one common way of worship (unified liturgy), better education, and stronger moral rules across Western Europe.
  • His time started the Carolingian Renaissance – a revival of learning that saved many Christian books and texts.
  • It helped create the idea of a “Christian Europe” that lasted for hundreds of years.

• Charlemagne’s Reign: Broader Influence on Western Christendom

• Political Unity: He brought together many kingdoms and tribes in Western Europe under one Christian empire.
• Carolingian Renaissance: He started schools, saved old manuscripts (handwritten books), and made the Bible and church services the same everywhere (with help from scholars like Alcuin).
• Missionary Work: He spread Christianity to new areas, sometimes by force (for example, the Saxon Wars against pagan tribes), though his advisor Alcuin said faith should not be forced.
• Church Organisation: He treated bishops like government officials, made tithes (church taxes) required by law, enforced Sunday rest, and set rules for priests’ moral behaviour.

Endnotes

1. Nick R. Needham, 2,000 Years of Christ’s Power Vol. 2: The Middle Ages, pp. 20, 25, 37.
2. Earle E. Cairns, Christianity Through the Centuries, pp. 191–193.
3. Tim Dowley, A Lion Handbook: The History of Christianity, p. 248.
4. Kenneth Scott Latourette, A History of Christianity, pp. 354–355.
5. Bruce Shelley, Church History in Plain Language, pp. 181–182.