Part 3/13:
Despite the physical division of territory, the Empire maintained an ideology of unity, anchored by the belief that there could only be one Emperor at any given time, akin to the singular authority of God. This perception sustained the notion of a "Roman" Emperor in the West through various rulers over centuries, but the inherent fragmentation persisted. Monarchs leaned on armored knights, who were granted lands in exchange for military allegiance, perpetuating a feudal structure that defined Western Europe.