From 756 to 857, the papacy shifts from the orbit of the Byzantine Empire to the that of the kings of the Franks.

Pepin the Short (ruled 751–768), Charlemagne (r. 768–814) (co-ruler with his brother Carloman I until 771), and Louis the Pious (r. 814-840) have considerable influence in the selection and administration of popes.

The "Donation of Pepin" (756) ratifies a new period of papal rule in central Italy, which becomes known as the Papal States.This shift is initiated by the Lombards conquering the Exarchate of Ravenna from the Byzantines, strengthened by the Frankish triumph over the Lombards, and ended by the fragmentation of the Frankish Kingdom into West Francia, Middle Francia, and East Francia.

Lothair I continues to rule Middle Francia, which includes much of the Italian peninsula from 843 to 855.