After the Lombard invasion, the popes were nominally subject to the eastern emperor, but often received little help from Constantinople, and had to fill the lack of stately power, providing essential services (ex. food for the needy) and protecting Rome from Lombard incursions; in this way, the popes started building an independent state.Edoardo Martinori, Annali della Zecca di Roma. Serie del Senato romano. Parte prima, p. 37 (256) (In Italian).
