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How did Frederick I use Charlemagneās legacy to support his claims as emperor?
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Frederick I
Frederick I as a Crusader with (right) Henry of SchƤftlarn dedicating to him a copy of the History of the First Crusade by Robert of St. Remy; miniature from a manuscript in the Vatican Library.
Frederick I Barbarossa strategically utilized the legacy of Charlemagne to bolster his imperial authority and assert independence from the papacy. By emphasizing continuity with the Frankish past, Frederick sought to ground his legitimacy in historical precedent rather than papal conferment.1
Key actions taken by Frederick to leverage this legacy included:
- Canonization: In 1165, Frederick arranged for the canonization of Charlemagne by his antipope, Paschal III. This move was explicitly political, designed to elevate the status of his predecessor and, by extension, his own office.12
- Asserting Imperial Rights: Frederick argued that his rights as emperor were derived from Frankish conquest rather than being granted by the pope or the Roman people.1
- Symbolic Titling: As a counterbalance to the church's concept of Sancta Ecclesia (Holy Church), Frederick added the term sacrum to the empire in 1157, officially designating it the Sacrum Imperium (Holy Empire) to assert a universal, secular foundation for his rule.1
Through these efforts, Frederick positioned himself as the direct successor to Charlemagne, reinforcing the idea that the emperorās authority was inherent and divinely sanctioned independent of the papacy.1