830-849 Muslim Saracens Attack Rome

This twenty year period covers the reign of the West Saxon King Egbert of England (pictured) who died in 839 and was succeeded by his son Ethelwulf.

The Pope in Rome was Gregory IV, and the Holy Roman Emperor was Louis the Pious, a Frank.

In 834 Pope Gregory IV intrigued with Lothair -- Louis the Pious's eldest son -- to depose the emperor, and when Gregory IV died in 844 and Lothair became Emperor trouble erupted between him and the new Pope Sergius II (844-847) who was not as accommodating.

Pope Sergius II crowned Lothair but refused to swear fealty to him as did his successor Leo IV (847-855).

Sergius II had to face the worst ever attack on Rome by the Saracen Muslims.

Saracen, at this time in history, meant anyone, regardless of race, who was a Muslim.

The Saracens entered the city and despoiled the shrine of St. Peter.

Pope Leo IV was active in fortifying Rome against the invaders and repelling them and in doing so he gained prestige and restored Church power.

At the same time as the Saracen Muslims were attacking Rome, the Norsemen were invading Gaul (Normandy) in 841. 

810-829 Emperor Louis the Pious Exacts Papal Loyalty

This twenty year period covers the last years of the reign of Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne who was succeeded in 814 by a Frank, Louis the Pious (pictured), and anointed by Pope Stephen V.

The West Saxon King Egbert held sway over most of England for this period.

Paschal I became the next Pope and ruled from 817-824. Particular tension existed between Paschal and the Emperor Louis' eldest son, Lothair, who believed the Pope was too big for his boots.

Emperor Louis the Pious continued to exert Frankish control over the papacy, requiring the pope-elect to swear an oath of loyalty to the emperor.

This was agreed to by Eugene II -- who was Pope from 824-827 -- and following popes.

Pope Valentine came to power in 827, quickly followed by Pope Gregory IV (827-844) who, despite his oath, intrigued with Louis' eldest son Lothair against the Emperor and the younger brothers Pepin and Louis the German.

In other parts of the world, by 810 the Hindu civilization -- related to the ancient Indic civilization -- was flourishing.