Charlemagne indulged himself in the freedom of polygamy or
concubinage.]

[Footnote *: Of fifteen months. James, Life of Charlemagne, p.
187. - M.]

[Footnote 54: See the Annali d'Italia of Muratori, tom. vi., and
the three first Dissertations of his Antiquitates Italiae Medii
Aevi, tom. i.]



Chapter XLIX: Conquest Of Italy By The Franks.

Part III.

The mutual obligations of the popes and the Carlovingian
family form the important link of ancient and modern, of civil
and ecclesiastical, history. In the conquest of Italy, the
champions of the Roman church obtained a favorable occasion, a
specious title, the wishes of the people, the prayers and
intrigues of the clergy. But the most essential gifts of the
popes to the Carlovingian race were the dignities of king of
France, ^55 and of patrician of Rome. I. Under the sacerdotal
monarchy of St. Peter, the nations began to resume the practice
of seeking, on the banks of the Tyber, their kings, their laws,
and the oracles of their fate. The Franks were perplexed between
the name and substance of their government. All the powers of
royalty were exercised by Pepin, mayor of the palace; and
nothing, except the regal title, was wanting to his ambition.