The year A.D. 800 forms the climax of Charlemagne’s reign. The sovereign
had gone in splendid state to visit Italy. On Christmas day Charlemagne
and his court were attending divine service in the church of St.
Peter’s, at Rome. Suddenly, while the monarch was kneeling on the steps
of the altar in prayer, the Pope, Leo III., placed a crown upon his head
and solemnly saluted him as “Emperor of the West,” with the title of
Charles I., Cæsar Augustus.