Charlemagne crowned Emperor

On Christmas day in the year 800, Charlemagne was at Mass in St. Peter's Rome. Suddenly Pope Leo III placed a golden crown upon his head. Charlemagne became the Holy Roman Emperor. He was the first emperor since Romulus Augustulus in 476. The Pope crowned Charlemagne out of thanks for the safety the Franks had given him. The crowning also represented Rome;s independence from the Greek Empire in Constantinople. Though it may seem that the Pope had power over Charlemagne, the emperor continued to appoint bishops and counts.