Today's episode is brought to you by audible.com.

Today's recommendation is The Restoration of Rome,

Barbarian Popes and Imperial Pretenders by Peter Heather.

It's the story of Theodoric, Justinian, Charlemagne, and the Popes

who would all try to restore Rome and the creation of the Holy Roman Empire.

Go to audibletrial.com forward slash TV critic to listen to it today.

Hello everyone, and welcome to the history of Byzantium,

Episode 81B, Charlemagne, and Leo.

If you haven't heard part A yet, which gave a summary of the events in Italy

and Francia across the 8th century, then go check it out now.

Today we're going to talk about the implications of Pope Leo crowning Charlemagne

and answer your questions on the 8th century west.

So let's look at what this decision meant for each side.

Modern historians are confident that Charlemagne was not crowned by surprise or against his will.

By 800 AD, there wasn't a lot which Charles Magnus could be forced to do.

A Frankish historian reports that later Charlemagne's

said he would never have entered the church that day if he'd known what was about to happen.

But this is clearly not true.

Charlemagne would continue to use the imperial title,

he would agitate for the Byzantines to recognize it, and he passed it on to his son.

Probably the reason that this regret was recorded was to fit Charlemagne into the grand tradition

of Roman emperors refusing the honour when it was offered.

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