The Election of Pope Hadrian I
Jan T. Hallenbeck
It would be difficult to find an aspect of eighth-century papal history that has been more thoroughly studied than the early pontificate Hadrian I ( 772–795 ). A host scholars—among them Duchesne, Caspar, Kleinclausz, Kehr, Halphen and Hodgkin—have scrutinized each highly significant developments which unfolded between Hadrian's election on February 1, 772, Charles Great's assumption Lombard crown in June, 774: vigorous measures against Roman supporters king, Desiderius 757–774 ); his appeal for Frankish military assistance counter Desiderius' offensive duchy Rome; conference with Rome April, 774 , resulted Charles' donation subsequent deposition installation himself as rex Langobardorum .
Church History