Christians

Charlemagne (c. 742-814), 'Charles the Great,' first Emperor (from 800) of what was later to be called the 'Holy Roman Empire.' The son of Pepin III, Kind of the Franks, and Bertrada, hew was anointed with this father and Carloman, his brother, by Pope Stephen III in 754. On Pepin's death in 768 he and Carloman divided the kingdom between them. The death of Carloman in 771 left Charlemagne sole ruler.

He was anxious to achieve liturgical uniformity and sought to promote the Roman Mass.His patronage of the scholars who formed the palace "school" and his remarkable book collection did much to stimulate learning. He formed the Carolingian Schools to help teach the clergy. These schools have forever left their mark on educational systems. (Ah...thus the French school children still blame him for their required schooling in a popular song.)

Church and State, 754-1309
Holy Roman Empire of Charlemagne: 754-962.
Key Events:
754: Donation of Pepin
mid-8th Century: Donation of Constantine (forged)
800: crowning of Charlemagne
mid-9th Century: Pseudo-Isidorian Decretais (forged)
840: division of Empire among Charlemagne's grandsons
Characteristics: Creation of Papal States made pope a temporal ruler. Crowning of Charlemagne set stage for power struggle between church and state. Feudal fragmentation of society occurred. In latter part of period, papacy was hold by unworthy men under domination of Roman barons.

Council of Nicea: 787. Constantinople VI was the Emperor. Declared veneration of icons and statues legitimate.