The spreading of Christianity often started with the conversion of a tribal chief or king. In 754 AD, the pope anointed Pepin the Short as king of the Franks. This king helped the pope when Rome was besieged by the Lombards.
The son of Pepin, Emperor Charlemagne, contributed to reforms in the Church and in society. After his reign, the empire was divided and tensions between the pope and the emperor increased. Therefore, from 1073 onwards Pope Gregory VII introduced reforms in the governance of the Church and her relationship with the civil government.
