Hadrian’s successor, Leo the Third, hastened to ingratiate himself with Charlemagne. He notified the King of his election and sent him a consecrated4 silver key as a symbol of his recognition of Charlemagne, both as the ruler of Roman territory and as a world sovereign.
It is of importance to understand the relations existing between Charlemagne and the Popes, for they were very different from those which existed between the later Popes and the German rulers. A letter of congratulation sent to Leo by Charlemagne throws some light upon them. It begins:
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“We have read the letter from Your Highness and listened to the decretals, and we heartily5 congratulate you upon your unanimous election, the dutiful obedience6 of your people, and your promises of loyalty7 to us.”
During the next few years there were outbreaks in Saxony and Spain. Wittekind and Albion remained faithful to their promises; but not so some of their people. The disturbances8, however, were quelled9 without much difficulty. The Moors10 in Spain, also, who had gained some advantages, were speedily overcome.
In the year 799 an assault was made upon Pope Leo during a street procession. It was badly managed, however. The leaders of the mob had planned to blind the Pope and cut out his tongue, but they only succeeded in cutting him in the face. The Pope’s friends rescued him and conducted him to a safe place of concealment11. The clerical officials, Paschal and Campulus, relatives of Hadrian, who were in attendance upon Leo, had been requested by the Pope not to officiate during the procession. He little dreamed of their treachery, for they were the abettors of the assault. The Duke of Spoleto, being informed of the outrage12, proceeded at once to Rome with armed followers13 and escorted Leo to one of his castles.
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As soon as his wounds healed, Leo betook himself to Germany personally to implore14 Charlemagne’s assistance. At Nuremberg he learned that the King was holding court at Paderborn, and thither15 he hastened. Before he could reach the city, news of his approach was conveyed to the King, who at once began preparations to give him an honorable reception. He sent Archbishop Hildebrand and Count Auschar to meet him, but this was only the beginning of the ceremonies he had arranged. As Leo neared the city, a troop of cavalry16 went out to escort him. The King’s son, Pepin, greeted him and conducted him to the plaza17, where Charlemagne sat upon the throne in royal state in the midst of his dignitaries. Rising and outstretching his arms, the King stepped down, embraced the Pope, and led him by the hand as he blessed the kneeling people.
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On the following day Leo related to the King the details of the murderous plot against him, of which the scars on his face bore evidence, and informed him that the conspirators18 had sought to justify19 their act by spreading base calumnies20 against him. He closed by asking Charlemagne’s help. The King replied that he could not personally accompany him to Rome, because of fresh disquiet21 in Saxony and the Spanish Mark, but he would furnish him an escort headed by Frankish chiefs, and promised to go to Rome personally as soon as possible. When the Pope’s enemies learned that Charlemagne had received him, their courage failed them. Leo was greeted with imposing22 ceremonies, and Paschal and Campulus were thrown into prison by the Franks.
The Saxon and Spanish affairs having been settled by the close of the next year (800), Charlemagne, mindful of his promise, went to Rome. The Pope met him at Novonte and had a private interview with him, at which a memorable23 event, soon to occur, doubtless was discussed. The Pope then returned to Rome to make preparations for Charlemagne’s reception, and on December sixth the King entered the city. His reception was an imposing one. The people welcomed him with their civic24 banners, the air was rent with loyal shouts, and the Pope, surrounded by the dignitaries of the Church, met him in front of St. Peter’s, which he entered accompanied by the music of the Papal choir25. This was only the prelude26 to the memorable ceremony for which preparations had been quietly made.
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Charlemagne began his magisterial27 duties in Rome by conducting an inquiry28 into the assault upon Leo. The calumnies were proved baseless; but as the Pope wished personally to establish his innocence29, Charlemagne summoned an assembly of the clerical and secular30 dignitaries and called upon anyone who had accusations31 to make against the Pope to appear and state them. No one appeared. Thereupon, to purify himself of all offence, the Pope declared he would make purgation by oath. He rose and said:
“The all-gracious and powerful King Charlemagne came with his prelates and princes to investigate these charges. In the presence of all here, in the presence of God and His angels, who know our inmost souls, and in the presence of Saint Peter, prince of the apostles, I, Leo, head of the Holy Roman Church, declare that I am guiltless of the charges made against me.”
He then passed a death sentence upon the conspirators, but Charlemagne subsequently mitigated32 the penalty. Paschal and Campulus were sent to a monastery33 for penance34 and their confederates were placed under the ban.
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At last the memorable event occurred which made Charlemagne the ruler of the Christian3 world. High mass was celebrated35 by the Pope in the Vatican on the first day of the Christmas season in the year 800. Charlemagne, in the elegant attire36 of a Roman patrician37, knelt before the shrine38 of the apostle Peter. Suddenly the Pope descended39 the altar steps, placed a golden crown upon the King’s head, draped him with the royal purple, and in a loud voice proclaimed: “Long life and success to the pious40 Charlemagne, sublime41 and peace-loving Roman Emperor!”
The choirs42 sang and the multitude shouted, “Long live the divinely crowned Augustus Carl, great and pious Roman Emperor!”
The anointing of Charlemagne as Roman Emperor, and of his son Pepin as King of Italy, closed the ceremony.
It was an event of extraordinary significance. It was not a mere43 spectacle or a comedy planned by Leo for purposes of deception44, as some historians have asserted. Charlemagne would never have consented to such mummery; for he was a giant not only in body but in soul, and was always swayed by lofty purpose. He regarded the ceremony performed that day in the Vatican as one of serious moment. It is not conceivable that Pope Leo conferred this extraordinary honor upon his rescuer merely for his own advantage. Charlemagne had always shown that he felt he was called upon to exert all his power for the strengthening and extension of Christianity.
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It must be taken into consideration that at that period hardly a fourth of Europe had been converted; that the Christian world in the south was threatened by the Mohammedans, in the north by the heathen Normans, and in the east by the Slavs and other pagans. From the earliest times the Eastern emperors had made claims upon Italy, and the Pope had not been protected until Pepin and Charlemagne appeared. Considering these things, and the dangerous situation, can anyone blame Leo for proclaiming the Frankish King, who had saved him before all the world, as the all-powerful champion of Christendom, and for conferring upon him a title which would impress all people as the commemoration of a great deed? It was this last consideration which induced Charlemagne to accept the title. He detested45 all outward display. Wherever he went he wore his plain military costume, but when he represented the people upon public occasions he did not despise show. He never underestimated the effect of personal appearance upon the people, and he well knew what the effect of this title would be. It was full of meaning to the people; but its significance to him was the completion of the great mission he had contemplated46. As to the motives47 actuating him, M. Carrière well says:
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“Charlemagne made the deeds and achievements of his grandfather and father the foundation of a lofty historical work. His soul was exalted48 with the ideal of a Roman empire and Christian German nation. Henceforth he devoted49 all his energies to the work of uniting the Germans in one organic whole. He brought not only Bavaria, but Saxony under German authority. From the Eider to the Tiber, from the Ebro to the Drau, his authority was absolute. When the Pope placed the imperial crown upon his head, it was the symbol of the work of culture the Germans would carry on in Rome, and a token that the new city should be a Christian city, representing God’s Kingdom on earth.”
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1
defender
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| n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人 | |
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detriment
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| n.损害；损害物，造成损害的根源 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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consecrated
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| adj.神圣的，被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 )；奉献 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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disturbances
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| n.骚乱( disturbance的名词复数 )；打扰；困扰；障碍 | |
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quelled
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| v.（用武力）制止，结束，镇压( quell的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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moors
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| v.停泊，系泊（船只）( moor的第三人称单数 ) | |
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concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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plaza
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| n.广场，市场 | |
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conspirators
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| n.共谋者，阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
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justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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calumnies
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| n.诬蔑，诽谤，中伤（的话）( calumny的名词复数 ) | |
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disquiet
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| n.担心，焦虑 | |
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imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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civic
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| adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的 | |
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choir
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| n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱 | |
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prelude
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| n.序言，前兆，序曲 | |
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magisterial
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| adj.威风的，有权威的；adv.威严地 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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secular
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| n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的 | |
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accusations
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| n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名 | |
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mitigated
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| v.减轻，缓和( mitigate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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monastery
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| n.修道院，僧院，寺院 | |
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penance
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| n.（赎罪的）惩罪 | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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patrician
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| adj.贵族的，显贵的；n.贵族；有教养的人；罗马帝国的地方官 | |
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shrine
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| n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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choirs
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| n.教堂的唱诗班( choir的名词复数 )；唱诗队；公开表演的合唱团；（教堂）唱经楼 | |
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43
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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deception
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| n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计 | |
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45
detested
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| v.憎恶，嫌恶，痛恨( detest的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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48
exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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