True Invention: That is, of the inventions which have been invented by the German nation

for the sake of the nations' sins, moves kingdoms from one people to another and greatly overtakes secular majesties.

For when Desiderius King of the Lombards attempted to draw the entire kingdom and power in Italy to himself, and therefore stirred up various tumults and all kinds of war rebellions, Pope Leo III of this name, who was chased out of all his affairs, fled from Rome to Germany to Emperor Carolus Magnus and requested protection and help from him, the most powerful potentate of Christendom.

Now, if this is the truth, how could this highly distressed and notable Pope, who was deposed from his seat and dignity, hand over to such a much more powerful King what he himself had never possessed or could possess? This is a King who also made use of the laws of reasonable war—from which all divisions and doubts are decided, as if from heaven and rationally, and through which the kingdoms of the world are changed and planted—and who, with the will of his supporters and the unwillingness of his enemies, drew the aforementioned Roman Empire to himself and maintained it.

And indeed, no one can bestow more and higher things upon another than he himself has by good right.