1. The Power of the ChurchThe Power of the Church
Chapter 13,Chapter 13,
Section 4Section 4

2. Far-Reaching Authority of the ChurchFar-Reaching Authority of the Church
IntroductionIntroduction
– Pope Gelasius I (served as pope from 492-496) heldPope 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 bowHe held that in spiritual matters the state should bow
to the pope, but in political matters the pope to give into 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 churchThese ideas did not work out in reality. The church
and the state struggled with each other for powerand the state struggled with each other for power
throughout the middle ages.throughout the middle ages.

3. 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 byPower 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 ChurchBishops supervise priests and settle Church
disputesdisputes

4. 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 theClergy administers the sacramentssacraments—rites to—rites to
achieve salvationachieve salvation
– Village church is a place of worship andVillage church is a place of worship and
celebrationcelebration

5. Sacraments in Western ChristianitySacraments in Western Christianity
Roman CatholicRoman Catholic ProtestantProtestant
BaptismBaptism
ConfirmationConfirmation
Holy CommunionHoly Communion
ReconciliationReconciliation
(confession)(confession)
Anointing of the SickAnointing of the Sick
MatrimonyMatrimony
Holy OrdersHoly Orders
BaptismBaptism
The Lord’s SupperThe Lord’s Supper
(Holy Communion)(Holy Communion)

6. 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’sThe Church has a system of justice to guide people’s
conductconduct
– All medieval Christians expected to obeyAll 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 throughPopes have power over political leaders through
threat of:threat of:
ExcommunicationExcommunication—banishment from Church, denial of—banishment from Church, denial of
salvationsalvation
InterdictionInterdiction—king’s subjects denied sacraments and services—king’s subjects denied sacraments and services
– Kings and emperors were expected to obey pope’sKings and emperors were expected to obey pope’s
commands.commands.

7. 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 ofOtto 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 (headsGains support of bishops and abbots (heads
of monasteries)of monasteries)
– Invades Italy on pope’s behalf; pope crownsInvades Italy on pope’s behalf; pope crowns
him emperor in 962him emperor in 962

8. 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 HolyOtto’s German-Italian lands become Holy
Roman EmpireRoman Empire
– Holy Roman Empire is the strongestHoly Roman Empire is the strongest
European power until about 1100European power until about 1100

9. 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 bansPope Gregory VII bans lay investiturelay investiture—kings—kings
appointing Church officialsappointing Church officials
– Henry IV orders pope to resign; Gregory VIIHenry IV orders pope to resign; Gregory VII
excommunicates Henryexcommunicates Henry
Showdown at ConossaShowdown at Conossa
– Henry goes to Canossa, Italy, to beg GregoryHenry goes to Canossa, Italy, to beg Gregory
forgiveness (seeforgiveness (see primary sourceprimary source))
– Gregory forgives Henry, buy lay investitureGregory forgives Henry, buy lay investiture
problem is not solvedproblem is not solved

10. The Emperor Clashes with the PopeThe Emperor Clashes with the Pope
Concordat of WormsConcordat of Worms
– Concordat of Worms is 1122 compromise winConcordat of Worms is 1122 compromise win
Worms, GermanyWorms, Germany
– Compromise: pope appoints bishops,Compromise: pope appoints bishops,
emperor can veto appointmentemperor can veto appointment

11. 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.

12. Disorder in the EmpireDisorder in the Empire
The Reign of Frederick IThe Reign of Frederick I
– In 1152, Frederick I becomes king; dominatesIn 1152, Frederick I becomes king; dominates
German princesGerman princes
– Disorder breaks out whenever he leavesDisorder breaks out whenever he leaves
GermanyGermany
– Frederick invades Italy, meets defeat atFrederick invades Italy, meets defeat at
Legnano in 1176Legnano in 1176
– Empire collapses after Frederick’s death inEmpire collapses after Frederick’s death in
11901190

13. Disorder in the EmpireDisorder in the Empire
German State’s Remain SeparateGerman State’s Remain Separate
– German kings after Frederick try to reviveGerman kings after Frederick try to revive
empireempire
– German princes, who elect kings, prefer toGerman princes, who elect kings, prefer to
keep them weakkeep them weak

14. 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