Pippin III Quotes


How many divisions does the Pope have.


Context

Pippin had the opportunity of expanding his empire by conquering the Lombards whose cavalry he could use if and when the Saracen Muslims would invade again. But he would be seizing another Christian country, contrary to the Pope’s edicts, thus losing the blessings of the Pope. Hence the question. He decided to go for the cavalry. Later, Joseph Stalin asked the same question in much different context. See {627524}. Some historians question whether Pippen actually uttered the quotation or just considered it.


Citations

Pippin III, 714-768, Pippin the Short, First King of the Frankish Carolingian Dynasty, Son of Charles Martel, Father of Charlemagne, Question he asked when considering his strategic choices, Quoted in David Levering Lewis, God’s Crucible, 2008

Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations

Linked Quotes

His response was to being asked whether he could do something with Russian Catholics to help Laval win favor with the Pope, to counter the increasing threat of Nazism. This quotation is often used as an example of Stalin’s disrespect for the Papacy. However, in this case, the Pope was extremely weak politically and some argue spiritually for he did not oppose Hitler and the Nazis very much. Defenders of the Papacy argue that Hitler had overwhelming force and little respect for the Pope, and ironically this was what Stain was referring to. Ironically, another Pope, John Paul, had a major part in bring down the Soviet Union and he had no divisions.


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Pippin III
Pippin III
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  • Died: September 24, 0768
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Pepin the Short, also called the Younger was King of the Franks from 751 until his death in 768. He was the first Carolingian to become king.