80025 December 800 · St Peter's, Rome

Coronation of Charlemagne

Raphael's fresco showing Pope Leo III crowning Charlemagne in Old St Peter's — Archival image: Raphael. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

At Christmas mass in Old St Peter's, Pope Leo III crowned the Frankish king Charlemagne emperor of the Romans, reviving the imperial title in the West for the first time since 476. The ceremony tied the papacy to a western emperor and prepared the way for the Holy Roman Empire. Charlemagne was buried in his palace chapel at Aachen.

Royalty & Monarchy
Religious & Pilgrimage
Political History
Rome, Italy

Sites

Site 1: St Peter's BasilicaThe red porphyry disc near the entrance, traditionally where Charlemagne knelt.Map ↗
Site 2: Aachen Cathedral, GermanyCharlemagne's palace chapel, stone throne and gilded shrine.Map ↗