Charlemagne was crowned Emperor of the Roman People on December 25, 800 AD, by Pope Leo III, in St. Peter's Basilica, in Rome. His empire, however, is not usually considered the same as the Holy Roman Empire.
Today, the empire of which he was crowned is usually called the Carolingian Empire. In the past, historians sometimes equated the Holy Roman Empire with the Carolingian Empire. Today, they are less likely to do that, and most commonly the first emperor of the Holy Roman Empire is counted as Otto I. According to this newer view, the Holy Roman Empire was not equal to the Carolingian Empire, but descended from it.
I should point out that the facts of events are not being disputed, but rather what names should be used. Medieval people did not use the name Holy Roman Empire until long after both Charlemagne and Otto I were gone, and they never used the name Carolingian Empire at all.
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