The famous emperor Charles the Great or Charlemagne as he is otherwise referred to as, was eventually crowned Holy Roman Emperor at St. Peter's Basilica that is located in Rome. The prestigious coronation ceremony took place on Christmas day in the year 800. Through the entire course of the Middle Ages, it is considered one of the most important dates of its history, thought to be the inception of a new era in European history. Along with the honourable privilege came an enormous plethora of responsibilities for King Charles that included restoring order and unity out of the chaos that had ensued the downfall of Christian Rome. During the coronation ceremony at the moment when the mighty crown was being put on the head of Charlemagne, it was stated that this heir to the Caesars already ruled lands stretching from Denmark to Rome and from the Atlantic to the Danube.

 He most assuredly was. But this was done only after he performed public penance by dressing in rags and kneeing in front of a cathedral front doors for days in the snowy winter conditions before he was welcomed by the Pope in Rome for the crowning.