Editing Pope Eugene II (section)

==Accession==
Eugene was [[Papal selection before 1059|elected pope]] on 6 June 824, after the death of [[Paschal I]]. Paschal had attempted to curb the rapidly increasing power of the Roman nobility, who had turned for support to the [[Franks]] to strengthen their positions against him. When Paschal died, these nobles made strenuous efforts to replace him with a candidate of their own. The clergy put forward Zinzinnus, a candidate likely to continue the policy of Paschal. Even though the Roman Council of 769 under [[Pope Stephen III|Stephen III]] had decreed that the nobles had no right to a real share in a papal election, the nobles were successful in securing the consecration of Eugene. Eugene's candidacy was endorsed by Abbot Walla, who was then in Rome and served as a councilor to both the current emperor, [[Louis the Pious]], and his predecessor, [[Charlemagne]].<ref name=Brusher>{{cite web| url = http://www.stsmarthaandmary.org/popes/Eugene%20II.htm| title = "Brusher, S.J., Joseph. "Eugene II - the Reformer", ''Popes Through the Ages''}}</ref>

The election of Eugene II was a triumph for the Franks, and they subsequently resolved to improve their position. Emperor Louis the Pious accordingly sent his son [[Lothair I]] to Rome to strengthen the Frankish influence. The Roman nobles who had been banished during the preceding reign and fled to [[France]] were recalled, and their property was restored to them. A ''[[Constitutio Romana]]'' was then agreed upon between the pope and the emperor in 824 which advanced the imperial pretensions in the city of Rome, but also checked the power of the nobles. This constitution included the statute that no pope should be consecrated until his election had the approval of the Frankish emperor. It decreed that those who were under the special protection of the pope or emperor were to be inviolable, and that church property not be plundered after the death of a pope.<ref name=Mann/>