The Donation of Pepin

The Donation of Pepin was a significant event in 754 AD when Pepin the Short, king of the Franks, granted territory in Italy to the Pope. This land, called the Papal States, helped establish the Pope's political independence from other European rulers. The donation strengthened the relationship between the Frankish kingdom and the Church, shaping medieval Europe’s political landscape. It also marked the beginning of the Papal States as a political entity, blending religious authority with territorial sovereignty, which contributed to the Church’s influence in European governance for centuries.