Byzantine emperor as an equal, not a superior. Charles was very ambitious after all. Others think that Charles was genuinely surprised. Leo needed a permanent protector against a growing number of enemies. He also needed someone to help him retain control over the Papal States, which had been under Byzantine control. By crowning the emperor himself, he set a precedent for Popes to be involved in the business of making kings, which might just come in handy. Charles was, however, not pleased. He probably didnt mind being an emperor, but he never used the title given to him by the Pope. He called himself Emperor, King of the Franks and Lombards. He did not like the Popes direct involvement at all. He even told one of his advisors that had he known it was going to happen, he would not have attended Mass that day. From then on, there was an increase in tension between the high officials in the church and the emperor. CAROLINGIAN RENAISSANCECharles did some good things. He kept the Vikings, Magyars, and Muslims at bay and out of central Europe. He did establish a rudimentary system of administration. He set up administrative offices that a lot to do with how Europe looks even now. He tried to establish central coinage, it didnt last long put the British system (pounds, shilling, pence) is based on it. He also was responsible for bringing a little culture into the Dark Ages. He was not an intellectual, but he liked literature and appreciated scholarship. His biographer said that when he couldnt sleep at night, he would pull out a notebook from under his bed and practice writing. He never did quite learn to write well, so he signed his name using a stencil. CYNICAL VIEW: He knew that Christianity was the only thing a lot of the people in his empire had in common. He had to try to promote it in order to promote loyalty to him. Sympathetic monks and bishops could provide key personnel in watching over the affairs of the empire. It would be good...
