Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 5 (1897).djvu/293

 OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 271 gratitude of pope Hadrian the First.*^*^ No sooner was he informed of the sudden approach of the monarch, than he dispatched the magistrates and nobles of Rome to meet him, with the banner, about thirty miles from the city. At the distance of one mile, the Flaminian Avay was lined with the schools, or national com- munities, of Greeks, Lombards, Saxons^ &c. ; the Roman youth was under arms ; and the children of a more tender age, with palms and olive branches in their hands, chaunted the praises of their great deliverer. At the aspect of the holy crosses and ensigns of the saints, he dismounted from his horse, led the procession of his nobles to the Vatican, and, as he ascended the stairs, devoutly kissed each step of the threshold of the apostles. In the portico, Hadrian expected him at the head of his clergy ; they embraced, as friends and equals ; but, in their march to the altar, the king or patrician assumed the right hand of the pope. Nor was the Frank content with these vain and empty demon- strations of respect. In the twenty-six years that elapsed between the conquest of Lombardy and his Imperial coronation, Rome, which had been delivered by the sword, was subject as his own to the sceptre, of Charlemagne. The people swore allegiance to his person and family ; in his name money was coined and justice was administered ; and the election of the popes was examined and confirmed by his authority. Except an original and self-inherent claim of sovereignty, there was not any prerogative remaining which the title of emperor could add to the patrician of Rome.^^ The gratitude of the Carlovingians was adequate to these Donations of obligations, and their names are consecrated as the saviours and chaHemagno benefactors of the Roman church. Her ancient patrimony of farms and houses was transformed by their bounty into the temporal dominion of cities and provinces ; and the donation of the Exarchate was the first-fruits of the conquests of Pepin.*^^ ™ In the authentic narrative of this reception, the Liber Pontificahs observes — obviam ihi ejus sanctitas dirigens venerabiles cruces, id est signa ; sicut mos est ad exarchiim aut patricium suscipiendum, eum cum ingenti honore suscipi fecit (torn. iii. pars i. p. 185). •>! Paulus Diaconus, who wrote before the empire of Charlemagne, describes Rome as his subject city — vestras [? vestras] civitates [Romanos ipsamque urbem Romuleam ; ap. Freher, i. p. 574] (ad Pompeium Festum) suis addidit sceptris (de Metensis Ecclesias Episcopis). Some Carlovingian medals, struck at Rome, have engaged Le Blanc to write an elaborate, though partial, dissertation on their authority at Rome, both as patricians and emperors (Amsterdam, 1692, in 4to). •>- Mosheim (Institution. Hist. Eccles. p. 263) weighs this donation with fair and deliberate prudence. The original act has never been produced ; but the Liber Pontificalis represents (p. 171), and the Code.x Carolinus supposes, this ample gift. Both are contemporary records ; and the latter is the more authentic, since it has been preserved, not in the papal, but the Imperial, hbrary. [See Appendix 16.]