The Power of the ChurchThe Power of the Church

Chapter 13, Chapter 13, Section 4Section 4

Far-Reaching Authority of the ChurchFar-Reaching Authority of the Church

IntroductionIntroduction– Pope Gelasius I (served as pope from 492-496) held Pope Gelasius I (served as pope from 492-496) held

a view of two powers in the worlda view of two powers in the world““holy authority of bishops” (auctoritas sacrata pontificum)holy authority of bishops” (auctoritas sacrata pontificum)

““royal power” (regalis potestas)royal power” (regalis potestas)

– He held that in spiritual matters the state should bow He held that in spiritual matters the state should bow to the pope, but in political matters the pope to give in to the pope, but in political matters the pope to give in to the state.to the state.

– These ideas did not work out in reality. The church These ideas did not work out in reality. The church and the state struggled with each other for power and the state struggled with each other for power throughout the middle ages.throughout the middle ages.

Far-Reaching Authority of the ChurchFar-Reaching Authority of the Church

The Structure of the ChurchThe Structure of the Church– Power within the Church is organized by Power within the Church is organized by

status; the pope is the supreme authoritystatus; the pope is the supreme authority– Clergy-Clergy--religious officials—includes bishops, -religious officials—includes bishops,

priests, and otherspriests, and others– Bishops supervise priests and settle Church Bishops supervise priests and settle Church

disputesdisputes

Far-Reaching Authority of the ChurchFar-Reaching Authority of the Church

Religion as a Unifying ForceReligion as a Unifying Force– Religion is important in the Middle Ages; Religion is important in the Middle Ages;

shared beliefs bond peopleshared beliefs bond people– Clergy administers the Clergy administers the sacramentssacraments—rites to —rites to

achieve salvationachieve salvation– Village church is a place of worship and Village church is a place of worship and

celebrationcelebration

Sacraments in Western ChristianitySacraments in Western Christianity

Roman CatholicRoman Catholic ProtestantProtestant

BaptismBaptism

ConfirmationConfirmation

Holy CommunionHoly Communion

Reconciliation Reconciliation (confession)(confession)

Anointing of the SickAnointing of the Sick

MatrimonyMatrimony

Holy OrdersHoly Orders

BaptismBaptism

The Lord’s Supper The Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion)(Holy Communion)

Far-Reaching Authority of the ChurchFar-Reaching Authority of the Church

The Law of the ChurchThe Law of the Church– The Church has a system of justice to guide people’s The Church has a system of justice to guide people’s

conductconduct– All medieval Christians expected to obey All medieval Christians expected to obey canon lawcanon law

—Church law—Church law– Canon law governs marriages and religious practicesCanon law governs marriages and religious practices– Popes have power over political leaders through Popes have power over political leaders through

threat of:threat of:ExcommunicationExcommunication—banishment from Church, denial of —banishment from Church, denial of salvationsalvationInterdictionInterdiction—king’s subjects denied sacraments and services—king’s subjects denied sacraments and services

– Kings and emperors were expected to obey pope’s Kings and emperors were expected to obey pope’s commands.commands.

The Church and the Holy Roman EmpireThe Church and the Holy Roman Empire

Otto I Allies with the ChurchOtto I Allies with the Church– Otto I (Otto the Great) is crowned king of Otto I (Otto the Great) is crowned king of

Germany in 936Germany in 936– Limits strength of nobles with help of clergyLimits strength of nobles with help of clergy– Gains support of bishops and abbots (heads Gains support of bishops and abbots (heads

of monasteries)of monasteries)– Invades Italy on pope’s behalf; pope crowns Invades Italy on pope’s behalf; pope crowns

him emperor in 962him emperor in 962

The Church and the Holy Roman EmpireThe Church and the Holy Roman Empire

Signs of Future ConflictsSigns of Future Conflicts– Otto’s German-Italian lands become Holy Otto’s German-Italian lands become Holy

Roman EmpireRoman Empire– Holy Roman Empire is the strongest Holy Roman Empire is the strongest

European power until about 1100European power until about 1100

The Emperor Clashes with the PopeThe Emperor Clashes with the Pope

Emperor Henry IV and Pope Gregory VIIEmperor Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII– Pope Gregory VII bans Pope Gregory VII bans lay investiturelay investiture—kings —kings

appointing Church officialsappointing Church officials– Henry IV orders pope to resign; Gregory VII Henry IV orders pope to resign; Gregory VII

excommunicates Henryexcommunicates Henry

Showdown at ConossaShowdown at Conossa– Henry goes to Canossa, Italy, to beg Gregory Henry goes to Canossa, Italy, to beg Gregory

forgiveness (see forgiveness (see primary source))– Gregory forgives Henry, buy lay investiture Gregory forgives Henry, buy lay investiture

problem is not solvedproblem is not solved

The Emperor Clashes with the PopeThe Emperor Clashes with the Pope

Concordat of WormsConcordat of Worms– Concordat of Worms is 1122 compromise win Concordat of Worms is 1122 compromise win

Worms, GermanyWorms, Germany– Compromise: pope appoints bishops, Compromise: pope appoints bishops,

emperor can veto appointmentemperor can veto appointment

This is an illustration of the concept of “lay investiture.”

In this picture a king from the Middle Ages is handing a bishop his “shepherd’s crook” a symbol of the office of bishop.

The Catholic Church insisted that bishops were chosen by the Pope, not by kings.

Disorder in the EmpireDisorder in the Empire

The Reign of Frederick IThe Reign of Frederick I– In 1152, Frederick I becomes king; dominates In 1152, Frederick I becomes king; dominates

German princesGerman princes– Disorder breaks out whenever he leaves Disorder breaks out whenever he leaves

GermanyGermany– Frederick invades Italy, meets defeat at Frederick invades Italy, meets defeat at

Legnano in 1176Legnano in 1176– Empire collapses after Frederick’s death in Empire collapses after Frederick’s death in

11901190

Disorder in the EmpireDisorder in the Empire

German State’s Remain SeparateGerman State’s Remain Separate– German kings after Frederick try to revive German kings after Frederick try to revive

empireempire– German princes, who elect kings, prefer to German princes, who elect kings, prefer to

keep them weakkeep them weak

Primary SourcePrimary Source

“There, having laid aside all the belongings of royalty, wretchedly, with bare feet and clad in wool, he [Henry IV] continued for three days to stand before the gate of the castle. Nor did he desist from imploring with many tears the aid and consolation of the apostolic mercy until he had moved all of those who were present there.”

POPE GREGORY, in Basic Documents in Medieval History