Pope Stephen II served as the head of the Roman Catholic Church from 752 to 757 AD. He is known for his efforts to strengthen the papacy and for his role in the political landscape of Italy during the early Middle Ages. His papacy coincided with the rise of the Carolingian Empire, and he sought support from Pepin the Short, the Frankish king, to protect the Papal States.
One of his significant achievements was the anointing of Pepin the Short as king, which established a strong alliance between the papacy and the Frankish monarchy. This alliance laid the groundwork for future cooperation between the church and European rulers, influencing the political dynamics of the region for centuries.