kings diminishes, these guys will become largely independent rulers. Charles knew that the system was inefficient. And he also knew that his dukes and counts might be inclined to act against him. So he created some other officers, called MISSI DOMINICI, or servants of the lord. They were like the Persian eyes and ears. They acted like inspector generals, investigating the behavior of royal officials and reporting back to the court. They were appointed in pairs, with one being from the church and one being regular. They were always posted to places outside of their native lands so they would have no local ties or loyalties. And if they should start to get some, the king would just move them somewhere else. They were to serve Charles. But it really only worked under Charles, because only Charles had the prestige and implied threat of power to really back it up. EMPERORSo, by the end of the century he had an empire, but he was not an emperor. But he became one and for a strange reason. The Byzantine emperor, Constantine VI, was murdered by his own mother and she took over the empire after his death. [Charles proposal was rejected]Something came up in which an emperor of some sort was required. The Church court had put the Pope, Leo III, on trial for many abuses of his power, most notably adultery. The Pope asked Charles to help him, since he knew Charles had been a big friend to the Church in the past. (Why didnt they ask Irene?)Charles presided over the trial and the Pope was acquitted. Two days later, Charles rose from prayer at Christmas Mass and Leo placed a crown on his head and proclaimed him Holy Roman Emperor. Here we have all three threads together: Roman, German, Christian. Historians debate how much Charles was complicit with this little ceremony. CYNICAL VIEW: Some say that Charles arranged the whole thing. His advisors had been looking into ways to gain him an imperial title. They also frequently said that he should treat the ...
