Pope Stephen IV

Stephen IV ( V ) ( † January 24 817 in Rome) was on June 22, 816 as successor of Leo III. elected Pope. The name means " the crown " (Greek ) His short pontificate was nevertheless very significant because it led to a rapprochement of the papacy to the strengthened Frankish royal family. Through him, a Frankish king was anointed the emperor and crowned with a supposed Konstantin crown, which the Frankish empire was placed in the ancient Western Roman tradition at the same time with Louis the Pious for the first time. Stephan reached the guarantee of free papal elections at Kaiser Ludwig. However, this was only granted after his death against his successor Paschal I.. This waiver of constant interference in Rome, Ludwig wanted to protect against the influence of the Pope to the decisions about the future of dynasty and empire.