Amidstthetearsofthecity，StephentheThirdembracedthegenerousresolutionofvisitinginpersonthecourtsofLombardyandFrance，todeprecatetheinjusticeofhisenemy，ortoexcitethepityandindignationofhisfriend。Aftersoothingthepublicdespairbylitaniesandorations，heundertookthislaboriousjourneywiththeambassadorsoftheFrenchmonarchandtheGreekemperor。ThekingoftheLombardswasinexorable；buthisthreatscouldnotsilencethecomplaints，norretardthespeedoftheRomanpontiff，whotraversedthePennineAlps，reposedintheabbeyofSt。Maurice，andhastenedtograsptherighthandofhisprotector；ahandwhichwasneverliftedinvain，eitherinwarorfriendship。Stephenwasentertainedasthevisiblesuccessoroftheapostle；atthenextassembly，thefieldofMarchorofMay，hisinjurieswereexposedtoadevoutandwarlikenation，andherepassedtheAlps，notasasuppliant，butasaconqueror，attheheadofaFrencharmy，whichwasledbythekinginperson。TheLombards，afteraweakresistance，obtainedanignominiouspeace，andsworetorestorethepossessions，andtorespectthesanctity，oftheRomanchurch。
ButnosoonerwasAstolphusdeliveredfromthepresenceoftheFrencharms，thanheforgothispromiseandresentedhisdisgrace。Romewasagainencompassedbyhisarms；andStephen，apprehensiveoffatiguingthezealofhisTransalpinealliesenforcedhiscomplaintandrequestbyaneloquentletterinthenameandpersonofSt。Peterhimself。^52Theapostleassureshisadoptedsons，theking，theclergy，andthenoblesofFrance，that，deadintheflesh，heisstillaliveinthespirit；thattheynowhear，andmustobey，thevoiceofthefounderandguardianoftheRomanchurch；thattheVirgin，theangels，thesaints，andthemartyrs，andallthehostofheaven，unanimouslyurgetherequest，andwillconfesstheobligation；thatriches，victory，andparadise，willcrowntheirpiousenterprise，andthateternaldamnationwillbethepenaltyoftheirneglect，iftheysufferhistomb，histemple，andhispeople，tofallintothehandsoftheperfidiousLombards。ThesecondexpeditionofPepinwasnotlessrapidandfortunatethanthefirst:St。Peterwassatisfied，Romewasagainsaved，andAstolphuswastaughtthelessonsofjusticeandsinceritybythescourgeofaforeignmaster。Afterthisdoublechastisement，theLombardslanguishedabouttwentyyearsinastateoflanguoranddecay。Buttheirmindswerenotyethumbledtotheircondition；andinsteadofaffectingthepacificvirtuesofthefeeble，theypeevishlyharassedtheRomanswitharepetitionofclaims，evasions，andinroads，whichtheyundertookwithoutreflection，andterminatedwithoutglory。Oneitherside，theirexpiringmonarchywaspressedbythezealandprudenceofPopeAdriantheFirst，thegenius，thefortune，andgreatnessofCharlemagne，thesonofPepin；theseheroesofthechurchandstatewereunitedinpublicanddomesticfriendship，andwhiletheytrampledontheprostrate，theyvarnishedtheirproceedingswiththefairestcolorsofequityandmoderation。^53ThepassesoftheAlps，andthewallsofPavia，weretheonlydefenceoftheLombards；theformerweresurprised，thelatterwereinvested，bythesonofPepin；andafterablockadeoftwoyears，Desiderius，thelastoftheirnativeprinces，surrenderedhissceptreandhiscapital。
Underthedominionofaforeignking，butinthepossessionoftheirnationallaws，theLombardsbecamethebrethren，ratherthanthesubjects，oftheFranks；whoderivedtheirblood，andmanners，andlanguage，fromthesameGermanicorigin。^54
[Footnote*:GregoryI。hadbeendeadaboveacentury；readGregoryIII。—M]
[Footnote52:SeethismostextraordinaryletterintheCodexCarolinus，epistiii。p。92。Theenemiesofthepopeshavechargedthemwithfraudandblasphemy；yettheysurelymeanttopersuaderatherthandeceive。Thisintroductionofthedead，orofimmortals，wasfamiliartotheancientorators，thoughitisexecutedonthisoccasionintherudefashionoftheage。]
[Footnote53:ExceptinthedivorceofthedaughterofDesiderius，whomCharlemagnerepudiatedsinealiquocrimine。
PopeStephenIV。hadmostfuriouslyopposedtheallianceofanobleFrank—cumperfida，horridanecdicenda，foetentissimanationeLongobardorum—towhomheimputesthefirststainofleprosy，Cod。Carolin。epist。45，p。178，179。Anotherreasonagainstthemarriagewastheexistenceofafirstwife，Muratori，Annalid\'Italia，tom。vi。p。232，233，236，237。ButCharlemagneindulgedhimselfinthefreedomofpolygamyorconcubinage。]
[Footnote*:Offifteenmonths。James，LifeofCharlemagne，p。
187。—M。]
[Footnote54:SeetheAnnalid\'ItaliaofMuratori，tom。vi。，andthethreefirstDissertationsofhisAntiquitatesItaliaeMediiAevi，tom。i。]
ChapterXLIX:ConquestOfItalyByTheFranks。
PartIII。
ThemutualobligationsofthepopesandtheCarlovingianfamilyformtheimportantlinkofancientandmodern，ofcivilandecclesiastical，history。IntheconquestofItaly，thechampionsoftheRomanchurchobtainedafavorableoccasion，aspecioustitle，thewishesofthepeople，theprayersandintriguesoftheclergy。ButthemostessentialgiftsofthepopestotheCarlovingianracewerethedignitiesofkingofFrance，^55andofpatricianofRome。I。UnderthesacerdotalmonarchyofSt。Peter，thenationsbegantoresumethepracticeofseeking，onthebanksoftheTyber，theirkings，theirlaws，andtheoraclesoftheirfate。TheFrankswereperplexedbetweenthenameandsubstanceoftheirgovernment。AllthepowersofroyaltywereexercisedbyPepin，mayorofthepalace；andnothing，excepttheregaltitle，waswantingtohisambition。
Hisenemieswerecrushedbyhisvalor；hisfriendsweremultipliedbyhisliberality；hisfatherhadbeenthesaviorofChristendom；andtheclaimsofpersonalmeritwererepeatedandennobledinadescentoffourgenerations。ThenameandimageofroyaltywasstillpreservedinthelastdescendantofClovis，thefeebleChilderic；buthisobsoleterightcouldonlybeusedasaninstrumentofsedition:thenationwasdesirousofrestoringthesimplicityoftheconstitution；andPepin，asubjectandaprince，wasambitioustoascertainhisownrankandthefortuneofhisfamily。Themayorandthenobleswerebound，byanoathoffidelity，totheroyalphantom:thebloodofCloviswaspureandsacredintheireyes；andtheircommonambassadorsaddressedtheRomanpontiff，todispeltheirscruples，ortoabsolvetheirpromise。TheinterestofPopeZachary，thesuccessorofthetwoGregories，promptedhimtodecide，andtodecideintheirfavor:
hepronouncedthatthenationmightlawfullyuniteinthesamepersonthetitleandauthorityofking；andthattheunfortunateChilderic，avictimofthepublicsafety，shouldbedegraded，shaved，andconfinedinamonasteryfortheremainderofhisdays。AnanswersoagreeabletotheirwisheswasacceptedbytheFranksastheopinionofacasuist，thesentenceofajudge，ortheoracleofaprophet:theMerovingianracedisappearedfromtheearth；andPepinwasexaltedonabucklerbythesuffrageofafreepeople，accustomedtoobeyhislawsandtomarchunderhisstandard。Hiscoronationwastwiceperformed，withthesanctionofthepopes，bytheirmostfaithfulservantSt。Boniface，theapostleofGermany，andbythegratefulhandsofStephentheThird，who，inthemonasteryofSt。Denysplacedthediademontheheadofhisbenefactor。TheroyalunctionofthekingsofIsraelwasdexterouslyapplied:^56thesuccessorofSt。Peterassumedthecharacterofadivineambassador:aGermanchieftainwastransformedintotheLord\'sanointed；andthisJewishritehasbeendiffusedandmaintainedbythesuperstitionandvanityofmodernEurope。TheFrankswereabsolvedfromtheirancientoath；butadireanathemawasthunderedagainstthemandtheirposterity，iftheyshoulddaretorenewthesamefreedomofchoice，ortoelectaking，exceptintheholyandmeritoriousraceoftheCarlovingianprinces。Withoutapprehendingthefuturedanger，theseprincesgloriedintheirpresentsecurity:
thesecretaryofCharlemagneaffirms，thattheFrenchsceptrewastransferredbytheauthorityofthepopes；^57andintheirboldestenterprises，theyinsist，withconfidence，onthissignalandsuccessfulactoftemporaljurisdiction。
[Footnote55:Besidesthecommonhistorians，threeFrenchcritics，Launoy，Opera，tom。v。parsii。l。vii。epist。9，p。
477—487，Pagi，Critica，A。D。751，No。1—6，A。D。752，No。1—10，
andNatalisAlexander，Hist。NoviTestamenti，dissertat，ii。p。
96—107，havetreatedthissubjectofthedepositionofChildericwithlearningandattention，butwithastrongbiastosavetheindependenceofthecrown。YettheyarehardpressedbythetextswhichtheyproduceofEginhard，Theophanes，andtheoldannals，Laureshamenses，Fuldenses，Loisielani]
[Footnote56:Notabsolutelyforthefirsttime。Onalessconspicuoustheatreithadbeenused，inthevithandviithcenturies，bytheprovincialbishopsofBritainandSpain。TheroyalunctionofConstantinoplewasborrowedfromtheLatinsinthelastageoftheempire。ConstantineManassesmentionsthatofCharlemagneasaforeign，Jewish，incomprehensibleceremony。SeeSelden\'sTitlesofHonor，inhisWorks，vol。iii。parti。p。
234—249。]
[Footnote57:SeeEginhard，inVitaCaroliMagni，c。i。p。9，&c。，c。iii。p。24。Childericwasdeposed—jussu，theCarlovingianswereestablished—auctoritate，PontificisRomani。
Launoy，&c。，pretendthatthesestrongwordsaresusceptibleofaverysoftinterpretation。Beitso；yetEginhardunderstoodtheworld，thecourt，andtheLatinlanguage。]
II。InthechangeofmannersandlanguagethepatriciansofRome^58werefarremovedfromthesenateofRomulus，onthepalaceofConstantine，fromthefreenoblesoftherepublic，orthefictitiousparentsoftheemperor。AftertherecoveryofItalyandAfricabythearmsofJustinian，theimportanceanddangerofthoseremoteprovincesrequiredthepresenceofasuprememagistrate；hewasindifferentlystyledtheexarchorthepatrician；andthesegovernorsofRavenna，whofilltheirplaceinthechronologyofprinces，extendedtheirjurisdictionovertheRomancity。SincetherevoltofItalyandthelossoftheExarchate，thedistressoftheRomanshadexactedsomesacrificeoftheirindependence。Yet，eveninthisact，theyexercisedtherightofdisposingofthemselves；andthedecreesofthesenateandpeoplesuccessivelyinvestedCharlesMartelandhisposteritywiththehonorsofpatricianofRome。Theleadersofapowerfulnationwouldhavedisdainedaserviletitleandsubordinateoffice；butthereignoftheGreekemperorswassuspended；and，inthevacancyoftheempire，theyderivedamoregloriouscommissionfromthepopeandtherepublic。TheRomanambassadorspresentedthesepatricianswiththekeysoftheshrineofSt。
Peter，asapledgeandsymbolofsovereignty；withaholybannerwhichitwastheirrightanddutytounfurlinthedefenceofthechurchandcity。^59InthetimeofCharlesMartelandofPepin，theinterpositionoftheLombardkingdomcoveredthefreedom，whileitthreatenedthesafety，ofRome；andthepatriciaterepresentedonlythetitle，theservice，thealliance，ofthesedistantprotectors。ThepowerandpolicyofCharlemagneannihilatedanenemy，andimposedamaster。Inhisfirstvisittothecapital，hewasreceivedwithallthehonorswhichhadformerlybeenpaidtotheexarch，therepresentativeoftheemperor；andthesehonorsobtainedsomenewdecorationsfromthejoyandgratitudeofPopeAdriantheFirst。^60Nosoonerwasheinformedofthesuddenapproachofthemonarch，thanhedespatchedthemagistratesandnoblesofRometomeethim，withthebanner，aboutthirtymilesfromthecity。Atthedistanceofonemile，theFlaminianwaywaslinedwiththeschools，ornationalcommunities，ofGreeks，Lombards，Saxons，&c。:theRomanyouthwereunderarms；andthechildrenofamoretenderage，withpalmsandolivebranchesintheirhands，chantedthepraisesoftheirgreatdeliverer。Attheaspectoftheholycrosses，andensignsofthesaints，hedismountedfromhishorse，ledtheprocessionofhisnoblestotheVatican，and，asheascendedthestairs，devoutlykissedeachstepofthethresholdoftheapostles。Intheportico，Adrianexpectedhimattheheadofhisclergy:theyembraced，asfriendsandequals；butintheirmarchtothealtar，thekingorpatricianassumedtherighthandofthepope。NorwastheFrankcontentwiththesevainandemptydemonstrationsofrespect。Inthetwenty—sixyearsthatelapsedbetweentheconquestofLombardyandhisImperialcoronation，Rome，whichhadbeendeliveredbythesword，wassubject，ashisown，tothesceptreofCharlemagne。Thepeoplesworeallegiancetohispersonandfamily:inhisnamemoneywascoined，andjusticewasadministered；andtheelectionofthepopeswasexaminedandconfirmedbyhisauthority。Exceptanoriginalandself—inherentclaimofsovereignty，therewasnotanyprerogativeremaining，whichthetitleofemperorcouldaddtothepatricianofRome。^61
[Footnote58:ForthetitleandpowersofpatricianofRome，seeDucange，Gloss。Latin。tom。v。p。149—151，Pagi，Critica，A。D。
740，No。6—11，Muratori，Annalid\'Italia，tom。vi。p。308—329，
andSt。Marc，AbregeChronologiqued\'Italie，tom。i。p。
379—382。OfthesetheFranciscanPagiisthemostdisposedtomakethepatricianalieutenantofthechurch，ratherthanoftheempire。]
[Footnote59:Thepapaladvocatescansoftenthesymbolicmeaningofthebannerandthekeys；butthestyleofadregnumdimisimus，ordireximus，CodexCarolin。epist。i。tom。iii。parsii。p。
76，seemstoallowofnopalliationorescape。IntheMs。oftheViennalibrary，theyread，insteadofregnum，rogum，prayerorrequestseeDucange；andtheroyaltyofCharlesMartelissubvertedbythisimportantcorrection，Catalani，inhisCriticalPrefaces，Annalid\'Italia，tom。xvii。p。95—99。]
[Footnote60:Intheauthenticnarrativeofthisreception，theLiberPontificalisobserves—obviamilliejussanctitasdirigensvenerabilescruces，idestsigna；sicutmosestadexarchum，autpatriciumsuscipiendum，sumcumingentihonoresuscipifecit，tom。iii。parsi。p。185。]
[Footnote61:PaulusDiaconus，whowrotebeforetheempireofCharlemagnedescribesRomeashissubjectcity—vestraecivitatesadPompeiumFestumsuisaddiditsceptris，deMetensisEcclesiaeEpiscopis。SomeCarlovingianmedals，struckatRome，haveengagedLeBlanctowriteanelaborate，thoughpartial，dissertationontheirauthorityatRome，bothaspatriciansandemperors，Amsterdam，1692，in4to。]
ThegratitudeoftheCarlovingianswasadequatetotheseobligations，andtheirnamesareconsecrated，asthesaviorsandbenefactorsoftheRomanchurch。Herancientpatrimonyoffarmsandhouseswastransformedbytheirbountyintothetemporaldominionofcitiesandprovinces；andthedonationoftheExarchatewasthefirst—fruitsoftheconquestsofPepin。^62
Astolphuswithasighrelinquishedhisprey；thekeysandthehostagesoftheprincipalcitiesweredeliveredtotheFrenchambassador；and，inhismaster\'sname，hepresentedthembeforethetombofSt。Peter。TheamplemeasureoftheExarchate^63
mightcomprisealltheprovincesofItalywhichhadobeyedtheemperorandhisvicegerent；butitsstrictandproperlimitswereincludedintheterritoriesofRavenna，Bologna，andFerrara:itsinseparabledependencywasthePentapolis，whichstretchedalongtheAdriaticfromRiminitoAncona，andadvancedintothemidland—countryasfarastheridgesoftheApennine。Inthistransaction，theambitionandavariceofthepopeshavebeenseverelycondemned。PerhapsthehumilityofaChristianpriestshouldhaverejectedanearthlykingdom，whichitwasnoteasyforhimtogovernwithoutrenouncingthevirtuesofhisprofession。Perhapsafaithfulsubject，orevenagenerousenemy，wouldhavebeenlessimpatienttodividethespoilsoftheBarbarian；andiftheemperorhadintrustedStephentosolicitinhisnametherestitutionoftheExarchate，Iwillnotabsolvethepopefromthereproachoftreacheryandfalsehood。Butintherigidinterpretationofthelaws，everyonemayaccept，withoutinjury，whateverhisbenefactorcanbestowwithoutinjustice。
TheGreekemperorhadabdicated，orforfeited，hisrighttotheExarchate；andtheswordofAstolphuswasbrokenbythestrongerswordoftheCarlovingian。ItwasnotinthecauseoftheIconoclastthatPepinhasexposedhispersonandarmyinadoubleexpeditionbeyondtheAlps:hepossessed，andmightlawfullyalienate，hisconquests:andtotheimportunitiesoftheGreekshepiouslyrepliedthatnohumanconsiderationshouldtempthimtoresumethegiftwhichhehadconferredontheRomanPontifffortheremissionofhissins，andthesalvationofhissoul。
Thesplendiddonationwasgrantedinsupremeandabsolutedominion，andtheworldbeheldforthefirsttimeaChristianbishopinvestedwiththeprerogativesofatemporalprince；thechoiceofmagistrates，theexerciseofjustice，theimpositionoftaxes，andthewealthofthepalaceofRavenna。InthedissolutionoftheLombardkingdom，theinhabitantsoftheduchyofSpoleto^64soughtarefugefromthestorm，shavedtheirheadsaftertheRomanfashion，declaredthemselvestheservantsandsubjectsofSt。Peter，andcompleted，bythisvoluntarysurrender，thepresentcircleoftheecclesiasticalstate。Thatmysteriouscirclewasenlargedtoanindefiniteextent，bytheverbalorwrittendonationofCharlemagne，^65who，inthefirsttransportsofhisvictory，despoiledhimselfandtheGreekemperorofthecitiesandislandswhichhadformerlybeenannexedtotheExarchate。But，inthecoolermomentsofabsenceandreflection，heviewed，withaneyeofjealousyandenvy，therecentgreatnessofhisecclesiasticalally。Theexecutionofhisownandhisfather\'spromiseswasrespectfullyeluded:thekingoftheFranksandLombardsassertedtheinalienablerightsoftheempire；and，inhislifeanddeath，Ravenna，^66aswellasRome，wasnumberedinthelistofhismetropolitancities。
ThesovereigntyoftheExarchatemeltedawayinthehandsofthepopes；theyfoundinthearchbishopsofRavennaadangerousanddomesticrival:^67thenoblesandpeopledisdainedtheyokeofapriest；andinthedisordersofthetimes，theycouldonlyretainthememoryofanancientclaim，which，inamoreprosperousage，theyhaverevivedandrealized。
[Footnote62:MosheimInstitution，Hist。Eccles。p。263weighsthisdonationwithfairanddeliberateprudence。Theoriginalacthasneverbeenproduced；buttheLiberPontificalisrepresents，p。171，andtheCodexCarolinussupposes，thisamplegift。Botharecontemporaryrecordsandthelatteristhemoreauthentic，sinceithasbeenpreserved，notinthePapal，buttheImperial，library。]
[Footnote63:Betweentheexorbitantclaims，andnarrowconcessions，ofinterestandprejudice，fromwhichevenMuratoriAntiquitat。tom。i。p。63—68isnotexempt，Ihavebeenguided，inthelimitsoftheExarchateandPentapolis，bytheDissertatioChorographicaItaliaeMediiAevi，tom。x。p。160—180。]
[Footnote64:Spoletinideprecatisunt，uteosinservitioB。
PetrireceperetetmoreRomanorumtonsurarifaceret，Anastasius，p。185。Yetitmaybeaquestionwhethertheygavetheirownpersonsortheircountry。]
[Footnote65:ThepolicyanddonationsofCharlemagnearecarefullyexaminedbySt。Marc，Abrege，tom。i。p。390—408，whohaswellstudiedtheCodexCarolinus。Ibelieve，withhim，thattheywereonlyverbal。Themostancientactofdonationthatpretendstobeextant，isthatoftheemperorLewisthePious，Sigonius，deRegnoItaliae，l。iv。Opera，tom。ii。p。267—270。
Itsauthenticity，oratleastitsintegrity，aremuchquestioned，Pagi，A。D。817，No。7，&c。Muratori，Annali，tom。vi。p。432，&c。Dissertat。Chorographica，p。33，34；butIseenoreasonableobjectiontotheseprincessofreelydisposingofwhatwasnottheirown。]
[Footnote66:Charlemagnesolicitedandobtainedfromtheproprietor，HadrianI。，themosaicsofthepalaceofRavenna，forthedecorationofAix—la—Chapelle，Cod。Carolin。epist。67，p。
223。]
[Footnote67:ThepopesoftencomplainoftheusurpationsofLeoofRavenna，CodexCarolin，epist。51，52，53，p。200—205。SircorpusSt。AndreaefratrisgermaniSt。Petrihichumasset，nequaquamnosRomanipontificessicsubjugassent，Agnellus，LiberPontificalis，inScriptoresRerumItal。tom。ii。pars。i。
p。107。]