Who did Pope Leo III crown as Holy Roman Emperor?

Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor in the year 800 AD, marking a significant event in European history. This act symbolized the strengthening of the relationship between the papacy and the Frankish monarchy, establishing Charlemagne as a powerful ruler who was divinely sanctioned. Charlemagne's coronation is often seen as a revival of the idea of a united Christian empire in Western Europe, following the decline of the Roman Empire.

The crowning took place on Christmas Day during a ceremony at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. By anointing Charlemagne, the Pope not only recognized his military and political power but also gave him religious legitimacy. This event laid the groundwork for the concept of a Christian empire in the Middle Ages, which would influence the political landscape of Europe for centuries. The title of Holy Roman Emperor became associated with the leadership of a Christian state, which would later be contested and shaped by various monarchs and political entities.

The other figures mentioned in the options came to prominence at different times and held varying degrees of influence in the Roman Empire or the broader context of European politics, but only Charlemagne was crowned by Pope Leo III, making this choice the seminal moment in the context of the Holy Roman Empire's