This illustration, vaguely labeled “Charlemagne” or “Charlemagne: Emperor of West and King of France,” was created by the French artist Jean Marie Mixelle (c. 18th-19th century). Although the title does not explicitly state what is going on in the scene, it is highly likely that the artwork depicts Charlemagne being crowned as an emperor by Pope Leo III (r. 795-816). If that assumption is correct, the artwork is based on an event that occurred in the year 800, when Charlemagne traveled to Rome to support the beleaguered Pope Leo III, who had nearly been assassinated a year prior. With Charlemagne’s help, the people who had assaulted the pope were caught and brought to justice. As thanks for the king’s aid, Pope Leo III personally crowned Charlemagne as an emperor and named him Defender of the Roman Church. Charlemagne’s biographer, Einhard (c. 770-840), described the event, writing, “Thus Charles traveled to Rome to restore the state of the Church, which was extremely disturbed, and he spent the whole winter there. It was at this time that he received the title of Emperor and Augustus” (The Life of Charlemagne, chapter 28). A later figure named Notker the Stammerer (c. 840-912), wrote another account in his text, The Deeds of Charlemagne, where he stated, “As Charles stayed in Rome for a few days for the sake of the army, the bishop of the apostolic see called together all who were able to come from the neighboring districts and then, in their presence and in the presence of all the counts of the unconquered Charles, he declared him to be Emperor and Defender of the Roman Church” (The Deeds of Charlemagne, book 1, chapter 26). Such is the event likely playing out in Jean Marie Mixelle’s artwork. The imperial designation given to Charlemagne that day in the year 800 eventually evolved into the title of Holy Roman Emperor. After around a millennium of existence, the Holy Roman Empire was finally dissolved in 1806.
Written by C. Keith Hansley
Sources:
- Two Lives of Charlemagne, by Einhard and Notker the Stammer, translated by David Ganz. New York: Penguin Classics, 2008.
- https://www.europeana.eu/en/item/2024903/photography_ProvidedCHO_KU_Leuven_9983480690101488
