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Charles "The Hammer" Martel defended France from the overpowering Moors (Muslims). This was a great win for Charles and led to him gaining great power.
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Pope St. Zachary and St. Boniface anoint Pepin as a divinely sanctioned king, and the Frankish monarchy is fused into the papal order.
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In 754, Pepin the Short travels to Italy with his army in order to protect the Pope against the Lombards. After defeating the Lombards, Pepin gives the Pope a gift, the Papal States. The states were Rome, Ravenna, and Perugia. This gift gives Papal Independence, but also brings corruption.
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Charlemagne's brother, Carloman dies resulting in Charlemagne becoming the main ruler of the Franks. Rumor has it that Carloman was killed by Charelmagne so he could take the throne, but no one knows for sure.
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Charlemagne is crowned by Pope Leo III on Christmas Day. This leads to the Emperor of Byzantium to basically become irrelevant.