WI ERE and HRE were united in 802?

In early 802 Empress Irene sent an embassy to the newly crowned Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne proposing a marriage between them... Charlemagne was in favour of such a proposition since a marriage of him and Irene would have legitimised his title as Roman Emperor...
However Irene's plan was dicovered by the chief eunuch Aetius and he informed the nobility in Constantinople...
In 31 Ocrober 802 shortly before the ambassadors return with the acceptance of Charlemagne to Irene's wedding proposal the nobles organised a coup deposed Irene and elected a new Emperor Nicephoros I thus cancelling her plans to marry Charlemagne...
WI Irene had married Charlemagne legitimised his title and united Eastern Roman Empire with Holy Roman Empire?
How is this altering History? Any thoughts?
 
It wouldn't have lasted- such a state would have been too unwieldy, and, in any case, Irene would soon have been overthrown one way or another. If Charlemagne goes East, he loses the West, in all probability.
 
Yeah. As cool as it sounds, this probably ends with Irene and Charlemagne both dead from that ever-popular disease 'knife in vital organs'.
 
I agree that such a union would be shortlived but if Charlemagne had married Irene before she is overthrown then he would have legitimised his imperial title. And he could struck a better deal with Irene's successor rather than accepting the "Pax Nicephori" (Irene's successor Nicephorus I refused to recognise his imperial title... had Charlemagne married Irene he could use that as a bargaining trick)
 
Seeing as more than one Emperor claimed the throne through their wife (living or not), Charlamagne could effectively say 'I know you've got the Imperial Regalia of the Western Roman Empire lying around (or can have a copy made), so I will drop my claim to the Byzantine Empire for both myself and my descendents (barring further marriages) if you give me those as a recognition of the title Western Roman Emperor'
 
Well, Charlemagne's successors couldn't even hold his empire together for very long, let alone the east as well, so it's certainly temporary.

OTOH, a lot depends on exactly how the break-up comes. Could all or most of Italy remain part of the ERE? If the two empires are united even for quite a short time that might be long enough to conquer the Lombard duchies of the south, making it a lot more geographically feasible..
 
As it was said above this union would be shortlived... Irene was already hated in Constantinople and a marriage with someone who in the eyes of the Byzantines nobles looks like a barbarian doesnt improve her status...
However Charlemagne could spare some troops to help the Byzantines clear Italy from Lombards before the nobles decide to kick out Irene... Plus they would have the Pope's help since Leo III wouldnt have to face the dilemma Franks or Byzantines for help...
 
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