The "Carolingian Renaissance," illustrating the consequences of earlier work done to Romanize and Christianize the Germanic West, reached its peak underneath Louis the Pious' sons. Nevertheless, their divisions, made worse through deaths, rebellions, and the invasions of Northmen and Saracens, made the latter 800's a disastrous time for the Christian Roman West. Popes tried vainly to halt the decay by choosing an Emperor who could defend both Church and State. Taken from the Roman Forum Gardone Symposium 2007 - Christianity and the Carolinigians (751-896).