Charlemagne and Ids Empire 377 Charlemagne was reckoned the immediate successor of the Em- Continuity of peror at Constantinople, Constantine VI, whom Irene had de- Empire" posed and blinded. Yet, it is hardly necessary to say that the position of the new Emperor had little in common with^that of Augustus or Constantine. In the first place, the eastern emperors continued to reign in Constantinople for centuries, quite regard- less of Charlemagne and his successors. In the second place, the German kings who wore the imperial crown after Charlemagne were generally too weak really to rule over Germany and north- ern Italy, to say nothing of the rest of western Europe. Never- theless, the Western Empire, which in the twelfth century came to be called the Holy Roman Empire, endured for over a thousand years. It came to an end in 1806, when Napoleon reconstructed Germany and the last of the emperors laid down the crown. The assumption of the title of Emperor was destined to make The title of the German rulers a great deal of trouble. It ccmstantly led sou'fc^e'^ o'f ^ them into unsuccessful efforts to keep control over Italy, which Qg^^'a^ *^ ^^^ really lay outside their natural boundaries. Then the circum- nilers stances under which Charlemagne was crowned made it possible for the popes to claim, later, that it was they who had transferred the imperial power from the old eastern line of emperors to Charle- magne and his family, and that this was a proof of their right to dispose of the crown as they pleased. The difficulties which arose necessitated many a weary journey to Rome for the emperors, and many unfortunate conflicts between them and the popes. Section 62. How Charlemagne carried on- HIS Government The task of governing his vast dominions taxed even the Difficulty highly gifted and untiring Charlemagne ; it was quite beyond go faTge'^alT^ the power of his successors. The same difficulties continued to empire exist that had confronted Charles Martel and Pippin — above all, a scanty royal revenue and overpowcrful officials, who were apl to neglect the interests and commands of their sovereign.
