alternatehistory.com

In April 799 Pope Leo III was attacked while saying mass by a group of Roman nobles who objected to his election since he was from common background... The Pope was beaten severely before Magnus Fortensen intervened with his Frisian mercenaries and managed to take him away to safety... The Pope was formally deposed and sent to a monastery but he managed to escape and seek refuge to Charlemagne's court...

WI Fortensen didnt arrived in time and the nobles killed the Pope and installed their own puppet Pope? Would this cause Charlemagne's intervention? Or he wouldnt bother coming?
Leo III was a supporter of Franks and was in good terms with Charlemagne... With Leo III and the Roman nobility in control of Rome and the Papal states dead would the Papacy returned to the Byzantine sphere of influence or the nobles would seek another "protector"?
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