In 846 Muslim fleets landed on the coast of Ostia, near Rome. Unable to breach the walls of the Eternal City, they sacked and despoiled the surrounding countryside, including, to the shock of Western Christendom, the venerated basilicas of St. Peter—where Charlemagne was crowned—and St. Paul, which were built by Constantine in the fourth century. The invaders vandalized the two holy shrines, desecrated the tombs of Christendom’s two most revered apostles, and stripped them of their treasures, including a large golden cross, a silver table earlier donated by Charlemagne, and numerous rich
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