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The Carolingian Empire
A Christmas Present
Charles went to Christmas mass at St. Peters. The pope himself said the Mass, and Charles' nobles, plus a number of local Romans, were in the church at the time (this was not the big one that stands today, but a smaller predecessor). It was a very great affair--the greatest king of the day and the greatest prelate, together at one of the most important Christian festivals.
As the king arose from prayer before the altar, the pope produced a crown and set it on Charlemagne's head. The people in the church - the high clerics of the Church plus the great nobles of the realm - cried out the traditional acclamatio that greeted a new Roman emperor: "To Charles Augustus, crowned by God, great and peace-giving emperor, life and victory!"
By this act, Charles was made emperor of the Romans. He was the first in the West to claim this title since Odacar the Goth did in Romulus Augustulus in 476. It was a momentous event and it has caused controversy from that day to this.