Final answer:
Charlemagne's crowning as Holy Roman Emperor deepened the divide between East and West Rome by challenging Byzantine claims to imperial authority and contributing to the development of a separate Western European identity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The crowning of Charlemagne's as Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III widened the split between the Eastern (Byzantine Empire) and Western (Carolingian Empire) territories of the former Roman Empire. By bestowing the imperial title upon Charlemagne, the pope was directly challenging the Byzantine Empire's claim to continuity of Roman imperial authority. Since the Byzantine emperors considered themselves the legitimate Roman rulers, they viewed Charlemagne's coronation as an act of usurpation. This act played a significant role in the estrangement of the two empires and exacerbated the cultural and political rift, paving the way for the eventual spiritual schism between the Eastern Orthodox and Western Catholic Churches. Moreover, the alliance between the Carolingian leaders and the papacy facilitated their independence from Byzantine influence, signifying a critical step in solidifying a separate Western European identity.