Pope Stephen II Re-Anoints Pepin the Short as King of the Franks
On July 28, 754, Pope Stephen II solemnly re-anointed Pepin the Short as King of the Franks at the Abbey of Saint-Denis near Paris. The ceremony also anointed Pepin's sons, Charles (the future Charlemagne) and Carloman, strengthening the legitimacy of the new Carolingian dynasty. In return, Pepin pledged to protect the papacy from its enemies, especially the Lombards in Italy.
This historic alliance between the Frankish monarchy and the papacy reshaped medieval Europe. Pepin's military campaigns on behalf of the pope led to the Donation of Pepin, which established the Papal States and gave the pope temporal authority over central Italy. The partnership between throne and altar would influence European politics for centuries and pave the way for Charlemagne's coronation as emperor in 800.
