CLEP Western Civ I

Answer: E - The statement that by the beginning of the ninth century, the Roman Catholic papacy had become one of the most powerful positions in the Western World can be inferred from Charlemagne’s crowning as Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas Day 800. When Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas Day in 800, he was surprised and unhappy with his investiture because implied that the pope had substantial authority over him to impose the title. Charlemagne did not want to be the Holy Roman Emperor. His reign did not ultimately mark the beginning of centuries of peace and prosperity in Europe; the empire flourished during his lifetime, but his son’s disastrous division of the realm between his own successors (Charlemagne’s three grandsons) led to the Treaty of Verdun and centuries of infighting in Western Europe. The former Eastern Roman Empire did not respond well to the empire’s reunification, and they refused to recognize Charlemagne as their legitimate ruler. Though Leo III held Charlemagne in high esteem, he did not hold the coronation on Christmas to symbolize that he considered the new emperor to be Christ-like.