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Lecture 25 Pope Innocent III

Dr. Ann T. Orlando5 November 2015

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Introduction

Pope Innocent III Fourth Lateran Council Universities

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Pope Innocent III (1160 – 1216)

Born in Anagani, Italy Studied at Universities of Rome,

Paris and Bologna Named Cardinal-Deacon by Pope

Clement III Elected Pope in 1198 Died in Rome, 1216

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Key Points of Pontificate of Innocent III

Expanded role of papacy in secular affairs

Expanded Canon Law Called the Fourth Crusade Convened the Fourth Lateran

Council Approved Dominican and

Franciscan orders

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Innocent III and Western Politics Resolved a disputed election of new HRE in 1198-1202; wrote a

decretal affirming: German princes elect king, who will then be HRE This right was given to German princes by the Holy See, which transferred

Imperial title from Greeks to Charlemagne If the Pope thinks the elected king unworthy, princes must elect someone

else If princes cannot agree on a king, Pope will select one

King John of England refused to accept Innocent's selection as Archbishop of Canterbury

Innocent places an interdict on England (no sacraments for population) King of France threatens to invade England John relents; and is placed in a very weakened position leading to Magna

Carta Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913: There was scarcely a country in Europe

over which Innocent III did not in some way or other assert the supremacy which he claimed for the papacy.

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The Lateran Recall, site given by Constantine in 4th C

to the Pope to be the Pope’s palace Throughout the Middle Ages, Lateran

was location of Curia and administrative offices

Vatican offices were developed by the Renaissance Popes Part of rebuilding of St. Peter’s after fall of

Constantinople 1453

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First Three Lateran Councils First Lateran (1123, Callistus II)

Reinforced Concordat of Worms Forbade clergy and monks to marry or have concubines Monks and others within a diocese had to obtain chrism

oils from bishop Second Lateran Council (1139, Innocent II)

Condemned marriage and concubines among clergy Prohibited jousting and dueling No bishopric left vacant more than three years Kings to administer justice in consultation with ecclesial

authorities Third Lateran Council (1179, Alexander III)

Cardinal-bishops elect pope with 2/3 majority required Forbade extortion of money for administration of

sacraments

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Fourth Lateran Council (1215) Included Patriarchs of Constantinople and Jerusalem

(Latin) Doctrine of transubstantiation (Canon 1) Exhorted Greeks to reunite with Roman Church; only

one shepherd of the Church (Canon 4) Papal Primary, followed by Patriarchs of Constantinople,

Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem (Canon 5) Forbade establishment of new religious orders (Canon

13) Christians must confess their sins at least once per year

(Canon 21) Payment of tithes (Canon 54) Jews and Muslims must wear special dress to distinguish

them from Christians (Canons 78, 79)

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Papacy after Innocent III

Time of increasing tension between popes and civil rulers

16 popes between 1216 – 1294 (Boniface VIII) Including two multi-year periods

without a pope Selection of popes increasingly

dependent on national interests of cardinals

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Early Paris Paris started as a Roman town,

Lutetium Renamed Paris in 3rd C after local

Celtic tribe First Christian missionaries

probably sent by Pope Fabian in 3rd C

First bishop was Dionysius, or Denis

St. Denis and his companions were martyred by the Romans on Montmarte (Mont of the martyrs)

There may have been a pagan temple where Notre Dame now stands

After Constantine the Great, several churches were built in Paris, including one on the site of Notre Dame

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Building the Cathedral of Notre Dame By tradition, the first stone

was laid in 1163 But not completed until

1250, with additional work after that for the next several centuries

Built in the ‘Gothic’ style that became the standard for grand church architecture throughout Europe in the Middle Ages

As the primary cathedral of Paris, Notre Dame assumed an important role in Church and French political history

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Importance of Paris in Middle Ages During the Middle Ages,

Paris was transformed from a small fishing and trading town to an important political capital

Center for many trade guilds

With this transformation, Church in Paris also became very important

A place of learning

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Beginning of University System Churches, especially cathedrals and monasteries

were primary sources of education for nearly 1,000 years in Europe

Recall that Alcuin of York under Charlemagne had began system of schools throughout kingdom

During 11th C, Pope Gregory VII initiated many reforms, including requirements for education of secular clergy

Bishops established cathedral schools Education focused on Canon law, administration, higher

learning Enrollment not limited to clergy

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Universities and the Church The university system as we know

it today grew out of the Cathedral schools of the Middle Ages

Most famous and important was the Cathedral School of Notre Dame

Became the University of Paris, also known as the Sorbonne

Students from all over Europe sought to enter the most prestigious schools

To be an universitas an institution had to recognized as such by the Pope

‘Nation’ was a fraternal group of students at the major universities who came from the same region and spoke the same local language

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Medieval University Degrees

Bachelors degree Six years to obtain Study of seven liberal arts

Masters degree Four to six more years Specialization in law, medicine

or theology Theology was most important

and prestigious Holder of masters degree could

teach others Doctorate

Several more years of study Holder could teach at most

prestigious universities

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Evolution of Modern University System

During Renaissance City-state and national courts develop their

own ‘cultural’ centers Development of vernacular language and

literature Eventually universities become more

secular Seminaries are formally established at

Council of Trent