Pope Who Crowned Charlemagne Holy Roman Emperor

Triton XX, Lot: 1275. Estimate $2000. Sold for $12000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ITALY, Papale (Stato pontificio). Leo III. 795-816. AR Denaro (20mm, 1.22 g, 9h). nomine Charlemagne, Holy Roman emperor. Rome mint. Struck circa end of 800-814. + • (horizontal S)C(horizontal S) • PETRV(horizontal S), LEO PA monogram / + CARLV(horizontal S), IMP monogram; pellets around; small wedge at end of legend. CNI XV 1; Muntoni 1; Berman 14; MEC 1, –. Near VF, toned, some deposits, minor edge split on obverse at 6 o’clock. Very rare.

Since the time of Pepin I (754/5-768), the Franks acted as the protectors of the Papacy, first defending it against the Lombards, and then securing the territory around Rome – subsequently known as the Papal States – through the Donation of Pepin in 756. In return, Pepin was elevated to Patricius Romanus, a title that implied papal protection and the recogniton of the king as the de facto authority in the formerly Byzantine Duchy of Rome and the Exarchate of Ravenna. Upon Charlemagne's succession as King of the Lombards in 774, this title was granted to him as well by Adrian I, the predecessor of Leo III. This appointment proved to be a catalyst in the events that followed, concluding with Leo III crowning Charlemagne as the first Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas Day 800.

Elected on the same day that his predecessor, Adrian I, was buried, Leo III established a close political relationship with Charlemagne from the very beginning of his Papacy. His predecessor's relatives, fearful of the new Pope's relationship with the powerful Frankish king, plotted to dethrone Leo, going so far as to accuse him of adultery and perjury. Attacked near the Flaminian Gate by a body of armed men, who sought to rip out his tongue and his eyes, Leo was rescued by his two of Charlemagne's envoys (missi dominici) who were present. Eventually, the fugitive Pope made his way to Charlemagne's court at Paderborn, where he was received with great honor. Escorting Leo back to Rome, Charlemagne held a council on 1 December 800 with the representatives of Leo and his accusers. Following Leo's Oath of Purgation, a Medieval proof of innocence, he was exonerated and his accusers were exiled. In return for the Frankish king's support, Leo crowned Charlemagne as emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.