[Footnote118:SeethetreatiseofConringius，deFinibusImperiiGermanici，Francofurt。1680，in4to。:herejectstheextravagantandimproperscaleoftheRomanandCarlovingianempires，anddiscusseswithmoderationtherightsofGermany，hervassals，andherneighbors。]
[Footnote119:ThepowerofcustomforcesmetonumberConradI。
andHenryI。，theFowler，inthelistofemperors，atitlewhichwasneverassumedbythosekingsofGermany。TheItalians，Muratoriforinstance，aremorescrupulousandcorrect，andonlyreckontheprinceswhohavebeencrownedatRome。]
TheImperialdignityofCharlemagnewasannouncedtotheEastbythealterationofhisstyle；andinsteadofsalutinghisfathers，theGreekemperors，hepresumedtoadoptthemoreequalandfamiliarappellationofbrother。^120PerhapsinhisconnectionwithIreneheaspiredtothenameofhusband:hisembassytoConstantinoplespokethelanguageofpeaceandfriendship，andmightconcealatreatyofmarriagewiththatambitiousprincess，whohadrenouncedthemostsacreddutiesofamother。Thenature，theduration，theprobableconsequencesofsuchaunionbetweentwodistantanddissonantempires，itisimpossibletoconjecture；buttheunanimoussilenceoftheLatinsmayteachustosuspect，thatthereportwasinventedbytheenemiesofIrene，tochargeherwiththeguiltofbetrayingthechurchandstatetothestrangersoftheWest。^121TheFrenchambassadorswerethespectators，andhadnearlybeenthevictims，oftheconspiracyofNicephorus，andthenationalhatred。
ConstantinoplewasexasperatedbythetreasonandsacrilegeofancientRome:aproverb，\"ThattheFranksweregoodfriendsandbadneighbors，\"wasineveryone\'smouth；butitwasdangeroustoprovokeaneighborwhomightbetemptedtoreiterate，inthechurchofSt。Sophia，theceremonyofhisImperialcoronation。