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Leo III
Birth name	Unknown
Papacy began	December 26, 795
Papacy ended	June 12, 816
Predecessor	Adrian I
Successor	Stephen IV
Born	Date of birth unknown Place of birth unknown
Died	June 12, 816 Place of death unknown
Other popes named Leo

Leo III (died June 12, 816) was Pope from 795 to 816.

Leo announced his election to Charlemagne, sending him the keys of Saint Peter's tomb and the banner of Rome, requesting an envoy. Charlemagne in his reply stated that it was his function to defend the church and the Pope's to pray for the realm and for victory of the army.

Leo, coming from a common-folk background, aroused the hostility of Rome's nobility, who saw the papal post as reserved for noble candidates. During rule was accused of adultery and perjury. In April 799 he was attacked by a gang, who attempted to gouge out his eyes and cut off his tongue for his earlier actions. He was then formally deposed and sent to a monastery, but escaped and made his way to Charlemagne, who escorted him back to Rome under royal protection. On Christmas day Leo placed the imperial crown on Charlemagne's head, resurrecting the office of Emperor of the Roman Empire.

Charlemagne went to Rome in November 800, and on December 1 held a council there with representatives of both sides. Leo, on December 23, took an oath of purgation concerning the charges brought against him, and his opponents were exiled. Two days later Leo crowned Charlemagne after the latter prayed at St. Peter's tomb. Charlemagne was to intervene in church affairs, not always successfully.

Leo helped restore King Eardulf of Northumbria, and settled various matters of dispute between the Archbishops of York and Canterbury. He also reversed the decision of his predecessor in regards to the granting of the pallium to the bishop of Lichfield, Higbert. He believed that the English episcopate had been misrepresented before Hadrian and that therefore his act was invalid. In 803, Lichfield was a regular diocese again.

The reasons for the coronation, the involvement beforehand of the Frankish court, and the relationship to the Byzantine Empire are all matters of debate among historians. An effective administrator of the papal territories, Leo contributed to the beautification of Rome.

His feast day, formerly, was June 12.

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• Translation of Einhard's Life of Charlemagne (c. 817-830, translated in 1880)