Charlemagne and Byzantine Empress Irene considered marrying. What if they did?
This is also a couple centuries before the Great Schism that would form the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox branches as we know them.
The Pope crowning Charlemagne was seen as controversial because it was also seen as a snub to the Eastern Roman Empire - and while the two did not come into conflict seriously, this could be seen as one of the biggest steps that led to their cultural and political divergence (which also contributed to the religious divergence too).
As we know both sides considered it, even if it wasn’t taken too seriously… what if they did marry? And if they produced healthy sons and daughters who lived to ripe old ages?
Likely butterflies away the Split of 1054.
