Page 34 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Rome

32  INTRODUCING ROME

Medieval Rome

Supplanted by Constantinople as capital of the Empire in the
4th century, Rome was reduced to a few thousand inhabitants
by the early Middle Ages, its power just a memory. In the 8th
and 9th centuries, the growing importance of the papacy
revived the city and made it once more a center of power.
But continual conflicts between the pope and the Holy Roman
Emperor soon weakened the papacy. The 10th, 11th, and 12th
centuries were among the bleakest in Roman history: violent Extent of the City
invaders left Rome poverty-stricken and the constantly 1300 Today
warring local barons tore apart what remained of the city.
Despite this, the first Holy Year was declared in 1300 and San Giovanni in
thousands of pilgrims arrived in Rome. But by 1309 the papacy Laterano
was forced to move to Avignon in France, leaving Rome to Aurelian
Wall
slide into further squalor and strife.

Charlemagne Crowned
in St. Peter’s
On Christmas Day in 800,
Charlemagne was made
“emperor of the Romans,”
ruler of a new Christian
dominion to replace that of
ancient Rome.

Trajan’s Column

Column of Marcus
Aurelius
Madonna and
Child Mosaic
The Chapel of St. Zeno
(817–24) in the church of Medieval Plan of Rome
Santa Prassede (see p173) Maps like this one, illustrating the
has some of the best
examples of Byzantine principal features of the city, were
mosaics in Rome. produced for pilgrims, the tourists
of the Middle Ages.

725 King Ine of Wessex 852 The Vatican is 961 King Otto the
founds the first hostel for fortified with walls Great of Germany
pilgrims in the Borgo following a raid Emperor becomes first Holy
by Saracens Otto I Roman Emperor
700 800 900 1000
778 Charlemagne, 880–932 Rome is ruled by two
King of the Franks, women, Theodora and then her
conquers Italy 800 Charlemagne daughter, Marozia
crowned emperor
in St. Peter’s

US_032-033_EW_Rome_US.indd 32 15/03/17 3:52 pm