Charlemagne, the name given to Charles, King of France and the first Emperor of the western Christian Empire, lived and ruled during the eighth and ninth centuries, A.D. Over the course of his career as a leader, the Holy See as its foremost defender and enforcer recognized Charlemagne. Under his rule, Christian Europe was effectively consolidated under one guiding political and religious body as had never been accomplished before. Over the course of this paper, his direct influence and control over the Church will be discussed.
