Thomas F. X. Noble argued that this polity became functionally independent decades earlier than was traditionally accepted. For 10 points each:
[10m] Name this polity that received land taken from the Byzantines in an agreement made at Sutri with King Liutprand. This polity later acquired the Duchy of the Pentapolis and the Duchy of Spoleto.
ANSWER: Papal States [or the State of the Church, Republic of St. Peter, Stato Pontificio, Dicio Pontificia, Stato della Chiesa, or Status Ecclesiasticus]
[10h] Noble challenged the view that the history of the Papal States began only in 754, when this pope met with Pepin the Short and received a donation of land later confirmed by Charlemagne.
ANSWER: Stephen II [prompt on Stephen]
[10e] Noble argues that two successive popes with this name played an especially important role in formulating the ideology of an independent “Republic of St. Peter” with its own people. Although it is named for him, an earlier pope with this name likely did not invent a style of chant.
ANSWER: Gregory [accept Gregory I, Gregory II, or Gregory III]
<Michael Coates, European History>