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dominion further than Benevento； for； of the cities of Rome； Ravenna；
Cremona； Mantua； Padua； Monselice； Parma； Bologna； Faenza； Forli； and
Cesena； some defended themselves for a time； and others never fell
under their dominion； since； not having a king； they became less
prompt for war； and when they afterward appointed one； they were； by
living in freedom； become less obedient； and more apt to quarrel among
themselves； which from the first prevented a fortunate issue of their
military expeditions； and was the ultimate cause of their being driven
out of Italy。 The affairs of the Lombards being in the state just
described； the Romans and Longinus came to an agreement with them；
that each should lay down their arms and enjoy what they already
possessed。
CHAPTER III
Beginning of the greatness of the pontiffs in ItalyAbuse of
censures and indulgencesThe pope applies to Pepin； king of
France； for assistanceDonation of Pepin to the pontiff
CharlemagneEnd of the kingdom of the LombardsThe title of
cardinal begins to be usedThe empire passes to the Germans
Berengarius； duke of Fruili； created king of ItalyPisa becomes
greatOrder and division of the states of ItalyElectors of the
emperor created。
In these times the popes began to acquire greater temporal authority
than they had previously possessed； although the immediate successors
of St。 Peter were more reverenced for the holiness of their lives； and
the miracles which they performed； and their example so greatly
extended the Christian religion； that princes of other states embraced
it； in order to obviate the confusion which prevailed at that period。
The emperor having become a Christian and returned to Constantinople；
it followed； as was remarked at the commencement of the book； that the
Roman empire was the more easily ruined； and the church more rapidly
increased her authority。 Nevertheless； the whole of Italy； being
subject either to the emperors or the kings till the coming of the
Lombards； the popes never acquired any greater authority than what
reverence for their habits and doctrine gave them。 In other respects
they obeyed the emperors or kings； officiated for them in their
affairs； as ministers or agents； and were even sometimes put to death
by them。 He who caused them to become of more importance in the
affairs of Italy； was Theodoric； king of the Goths； when he
established the seat of his empire at Ravenna； for； Rome being without
a prince； the Romans found it necessary； for their safety； to yield
obedience to the pope； his authority； however； was not greatly
increased thereby； the only advantage being； that the church of Rome
was allowed to take precedence of that of Ravenna。 But the Lombards
having taken possession； and Italy being divided into many parts； the
pope had an opportunity of greater exertion。 Being as it were the head
of Rome； both the emperor of Constantinople and the Lombards respected
him； so that the Romans； by his means； entered into league with the
Lombards； and with Longinus； not as subjects； but as equals。 Thus the
popes； at one time friends of the Greeks； and at another of the
Lombards； increased their own power； but upon the ruin of the eastern
empire； which occurred during the time of Heraclius； their influence
was reduced； for the Sclavi； of whom we spoke before； again assailed
Illyria； and having occupied the country； named it Sclavonia； after
themselves； and the other parts were attacked by the Persians； then by
the Saracens under Mohammed； and lastly by the Turks； who took Syria；
Africa； and Egypt。 These causes induced the reigning pope； in his
distress； to seek new friends； and he applied to the king of France。
Nearly all the wars which the northern barbarians carried on in Italy；
it may be here remarked； were occasioned by the pontiffs； and the
hordes； with which the country was inundated； were generally called in
by them。 The same mode of proceeding still continued； and kept Italy
weak and unsettled。 And； therefore； in relating the events which have
taken place from those times to the present； the ruin of the empire
will be no longer illustrated； but only the increase of the
pontificate and of the other principalities which ruled Italy till the
coming of Charles VIII。 It will be seen how the popes； first with
censures； and afterward with these and arms； mingled with indulgences；
became both terrible and venerable； and how； from having abused both；
they ceased to possess any influence； and were wholly dependent on the
will of others for assistance in their wars。
But to return to the order of our narration。 Gregory III。 occupied the
papacy； and the kingdom of the Lombards was held by Astolphus； who；
contrary to agreement； seized Ravenna； and made war upon the pope。 On
this account； Gregory no longer relying upon the emperor of
Constantinople； since he； for the reasons above given； was unable to
assist him； and unwilling to trust the Lombards； for they had
frequently broken their faith； had recourse to Pepin II。； who； from
being lord of Austria and Brabant； had become king of France； not so
much by his own valor as by that of Charles Martel； his father； and
Pepin his grandfather； for Charles Martel； being governor of the
kingdom； effected the memorable defeat of the Saracens near Tours；
upon the Loire； in which two hundred thousand of them are said to have
been left dead upon the field of battle。 Hence； Pepin； by his father's
reputation and his own abilities； became afterward king of France。 To
him Pope Gregory； as we have said； applied for assistance against the
Lombards； which Pepin promised to grant； but desired first to see him
and be honored with his presence。 Gregory accordingly went to France；
passing uninjured through the country of his enemies； so great was the
respect they had for religion； and was treated honorably by Pepin； who
sent an army into Italy； and besieged the Lombards in Pavia。 King
Astolphus； compelled by necessity； made proposals of peace to the
French； who agreed to them at the entreaty of the popefor he did not
desire the death of his enemy； but that he should be converted and
live。 In this treaty； Astolphus promised to give to the church all the
places he had taken from her； but the king's forces having returned to
France； he did not fulfill the agreement； and the pope again had
recourse to Pepin； who sent another army； conquered the Lombards； took
Ravenna； and； contrary to the wishes of the Greek emperor； gave it to
the pope； with all the places that belonged to the exarchate； and
added to them Urbino and the Marca。 But Astolphus； while fulfilling
the terms of his agreement； died； and Desiderius； a Lombard； who was
duke of Tuscany； took up arms to occupy the kingdom； and demanded
assistance of the pope； promising him his friendship。 The pope
acceding to his request； the other princes assented。 Desiderius kept
faith at first； and proceeded to resign the districts to the pope；
according to the agreement made with Pepin； so that an exarch was no
longer sent from Constantinople to Ravenna； but it was governed
according to the will of the pope。 Pepin soon after died； and was
succeeded by his son Charles； the same who； on account of the
magnitude and success of his enterprises； was called Charlemagne； or
Charles the Great。 Theodore I。 now succeeded to the papacy； and
discord arising between him and Desiderius； the latter besieged him in
Rome。 The pope requested assistance of Charles； who； having crossed
the Alps； besieged Desiderius in Pavai； where he took both him and his
children； and sent them prisoners to France。 He then went to visit the
pontiff at Rome； where he declared； THAT THE POPE； BEING VICAR OF GOD；
COULD NOT BE JUDGED BY MEN。 The pope and the people of Rome made him
emperor； and thus Rome began to have an emperor of the west。 And
whereas the popes used to be established by the emperors； the latter
now began to have need of the popes at their elections； the empire
continued to lose its powers； while the church acquired them； and； by
these means； she constantly extended her authority over temporal
princes。
The Lombards； having now been two hundred and thirty…two years in the
country； were strangers only in name； and Charles； wishing to
reorganize the states of Italy； consented that they should occupy the
places in which they had been brought up； and call the province after
their own name； Lombardy。 That they might be led to respect the Roman
name； he ordered all that part of Italy adjoining to them； which had
been under the exarchate of Ravenna； to be called Romagna。 Besides
this； he created his son Pepin； king of Italy； whose dominion extended
to Benevento； all the rest being possessed by the Greek emperor； with
whom Charles was in league。 About this time Pascal I。 occupied the
pontificate； and the priests of the churches of Rome； from being near
to the pope； and attending the elec