True Invention: On the Highly Useful and Splendid Inventions and Arts of the German Nation

...whom the feared Romans could never make subject to themselves) namely, such large, mighty, and populous lands and kingdoms as he held under his power, to which the more excellent part of Italy, Lombardy A region in Northern Italy named after the Lombards, whom Charlemagne defeated, was also added.

The remaining part of Italy could not offer him any resistance, as it was unarmed and protected by no King or Prince, and since the city of Rome itself had been so often captured and plundered by the barbarian peoples. Thus, Emperor Charles Charlemagne, at the persistent urging and exhortation of the aforementioned Pope Leo, took upon himself not only its protection, but also the Realm and the Imperial Dignity original: Keyserthumbs; the office or status of an Emperor itself—which for that reason was called "Roman"—and established an entirely new Imperial Government original: Keyserliches Regiment. He was then inaugurated and crowned by the aforementioned Roman Bishop Leo, as was fitting.

Therefore, the aforementioned Bishop Leo gave or gifted absolutely nothing to Emperor Charlemagne original: Carolo Magno; rather, performing the duties of his office, he crowned him and proclaimed him a Roman Emperor just as a general herald An official messenger; Maier is arguing the Pope only announced the fact of Charlemagne's power rather than granting it as a superior would, and not as if he were an Emperor himself appointing a successor.

And indeed, what did this Pope Leo (as Bertius Petrus Bertius (1565–1629), a Flemish scholar often cited in political and geographical works of this era says) possess, being a Bishop cast out and deposed from his government and see original: Stul (chair/stool); the seat of a bishop's authority...