The Crowning of Charlemagne

On a cold Christmas Day in Rome; 800, fifty-eight year old Charlemagne came to Rome in answer to Pope Leo's cries for help against enemies that wanted to overthrow him. Despite the fact that this wasn't his first time being crowned, he didn't expect to be crowned the Emperor of the West, by the pope. That Christmas Day, Charlemagne, son of Pepin the Short, dressed in a garment of gold cloth, with jeweled boots and a golden gridle to his cloak, went to St. Peter's Church. Oblivious to anything, and being the pious and devout Christian, he knelt down in prayer before the altar. …