The Church Wields Power

Chapter 13, Section 4

The Scope of Church Authority

• The Church looked to combine political and spiritual authority when it crowned Charlemagne emperor in 800 CE– Two swords: Emperor/king and religious– Each realm had its own authority and should not

be combined – Pope Gelasius I• Throughout Europe in the Middle Ages the

two sides clashed all the time

Church “Feudalism”

• The organization of the Church mirrored the feudal system.– Distribution of power based upon status• Pope: highest level- Head of Church• Cardinals• Bishops• Priests: Main point of contact for the people

The Unifying Force

• While the Manor system was divisive to the people, the shared beliefs of the church was a unifying presence

• The constant warfare that plagued the Middle Ages was appeased through the church and religion.– Security and community – The Age of Faith : the Church was the biggest

entity and occupied center stage

Unifying Force

• Life was harsh in the Middle Ages– Salvation was the same for everyone, though

• Sacraments were used as a path to salvation– Baptism: membership at birth– Confirmation: public claim of membership and

faith– Communion: Togetherness and closeness to God– Worship in church– Religious holidays: Christmas and Easter

Church Justice

• Church authority was political and religious.• All medieval kings, Christians and peasants

were subject to CANNON LAW– Law of the Church– Church established courts to try those who

opposed or violated cannon law– Excommunication and Interdict were powerful

tools wielded by Church authority

The Holy Roman Empire

• Otto the Great crowned king in 936.• A ferocious warrior and shrewd politician, he crushed

all opposition, including two rebellions by his brother Henry, who planned to murder him.

• He smashed the Magyars of Hungary and put an end to their years of pillaging incursions, held the Danes back in the north, made loyal allies of the German bishops.– Forms a close alliance with the Church• Wants to limit power of the Nobles

Otto I

• In 951, Otto invaded Italy, where an Italian lord, Berengar of Ivrea, had seized the throne.

• In 961 Pope John XII (who was best known for his debauchery) desperately needed help against Berengar, who had seized part of the Papal States. He appealed to Otto, who readily came to his rescue and in return was crowned Emperor of the Romans by the pope.

Otto I

• The word Holy was not used for another two centuries, but Otto the Great has been recognized by historians as in effect the first of the Holy Roman Emperors and the most powerful European ruler of his time. He died in 973.

German Emperor Henry IV• Henry IV succeeded to the throne at the age of six. He

attempted to consolidate his imperial power by engaging in a monumental struggle with Pope Gregory VII.As a result of the investiture controversy (whether bishops should be appointed by the pope or emperor) Henry IV deposed the pope, the pope in return excommunicated the emperor.

• The opposition of the German princes forced Henry to travel to Canossa in Italy and beg for absolution from the pope (Penance at Canossa 1077).

• Following a second excommunication Henry IV nominated the archbishop of Ravenna as antipope.

Concordat of/at Worms

• A concordat is a formal agreement between the pope acting in his spiritual function and a state. It is a legal contract between church and state, recognized as a treaty under international law.

• On 23 September 1122, Pope Calixtus II and Holy Roman Emperor Henry V agreed to the Concordat of Worms which temporarily resolved the struggle between the papacy and the Holy Roman Emperors regarding the appointment and power of monks and bishops.

Concordat of/at Worms

• Prior to the Concordat, the secular ruler was seen as possessing the right to invest bishops with both secular and sacred authority. The ability of the secular ruler to appoint bishops was an important means of exercising political control. Bishops could be placed in charge of royal lands without worrying that those lands might fall into the hands the bishop’s descendants.

Frederick I (Barbarossa)

• The first to refer to his empire as Holy Roman Empire– Actually a patchwork of Feudal territories.

• Had many battles with military in Italy including against the Lombard League.– Some victories, some losses.– Dies crossing a river in 1190

• His Empire dissolves soon after his death.

Frederick I Otto I Henry IV