From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Leo III
(died
June 12
,
816
) was
Pope
from 795 to 816. He is famous for the
coronation
of
Charlemagne
as
emperor
in 800.
Leo was born in Rome.
Leo reported his election to
Charlemagne
, sent him the keys of
Saint Peter's tomb
and the banner of
Rome
. Charlemagne replied that it was his function to defend the church and the Pope's to pray for the
kingdom
and for victory of the army.
Charlemagne went to Rome in November 800, and on
December 1
held a
council
there with representatives of both sides. Leo, on
December 23
, took an oath of
purgation
concerning the charges brought against him, and his opponents were exiled. Two days later Leo crowned Charlemagne at St. Peter's tomb. Charlemagne did intervene in church affairs, not always successfully.
The reasons for the coronation, the involvement beforehand of the Frankish court, and the relationship to the
Byzantine Empire
are all matters of debate among historians.
Media related to
Leo III
at Wikimedia Commons