Download - The Power of the Church
The Power of the ChurchChapter 13 Section 4
Key Terms Clergy Sacrament Canon law Holy Roman Empire Lay investiture
The Far-Reaching Authority of the Church Crowning of
Charlemagne Gave the church
both spiritual and political influence
300 years earlier Pope Gelasius said conflicts could arise between the church and state
The Far Reaching Authority of The Church God created two
swords One for religion The other political
Pope should bow to emperor (political)
Emperor bow to pope (religious)
Church and rulers competed for power
Structure of the Church Power based on status
The pope in Rome headed the church
All clergy under the pope Clergy- included bishops
and priests Bishops supervised
priests Bishops settled disputes
over Church teachings Local priest is the main
contact
Religion as a Unifying Force Feudalism separated
people Shared beliefs brought
them together Church stable force
during warfare Provided Christians
with a sense of security Religion was center
stage
Religion as a Unifying Force Life was harsh Follow path to salvation Everlasting life in
heaven Priests administered
the sacraments Important religious
ceremonies Rites pave way for
salvation
Religion as a Unifying Force Baptism- became part
of the Christian Community
Village church unifying force
Religious and social center
People worshipped together
Holidays festive occasions
The Law of the Church Churches authority
spiritual and political Created a code of
justice All kings, peasants
subject to canon law Church law-
marriages and religious practices
The Law of the Church Two of the harshest
punishments were Excommunication Interdiction
Popes used excommunication a banishment from the church to yield power over political figures
The Law of the Church King quarrels with a
Pope the king would be denied salvation
Also freed all of his vassals from their duty
Interdiction- sacraments could not be performed on the kings land
The Law of the Church People believe
without the sacraments they are doomed
During 11 century these threat would force and emperor to submit to the popes commands
Otto I Allies with the Church Most effective ruler in
Medieval Germany Crowned in 936 Formed close alliance
with the church To limit nobles strength
sought help from bishops and abbots
Used power to defeat German princes
Signs of Future Conflicts Otto invaded Rome on
the Popes behalf Pope crowned him
emperor 962 Holy Roman Empire
Strongest state in Europe till 1100
Popes and Italian nobles did not like Germany’s power over Italy
The Emperor Clashes with the Pope Lay investiture-
ceremony in which kings and nobles appoint church officials
Who ever controlled lay investiture held the real power
Church reformers felt the king should not have this power
The Emperor Clashes with the Pope 1075 Pope Gregory
banned lay investitures Henry IV called a
meeting of the bishops he appointed
Emperor ordered Gregory to step down
Gregory excommunicated Henry
The Emperor Clashes with the Pope German bishops
sided with the Pope To save his throne
Henry begged forgiveness
1077 Henry crosses the alps to Canossa
Gregory was a guest there
The Emperor Clashes with the Pope Stood in bare feet
in the snow Pope was obliged
to forgive him Henry spent three
days in the snow
Concordat of Worms 1122 Church and
emperor met Reached a
compromise Church alone could
appoint bishops Emperor could veto
the appointment
Disorder in the Empire Frederick I First ruler to call
his lands the Holy Roman Empire
Invaded rich Italian cities
Merchants and the Pope joined the Lombard league
Reign of Frederick I 1176 foot soldiers of
Lombard league faced Frederick’s army of mounted knights
Battle of Legnano Italian foot soldiers defeat the knights
1177 makes peace with the Pope
Frederick drowns in 1190 empire collapses
German States Remain Separate German kings tried to
revive Charlemagne’s empire and his alliance with the church
Led to wars with Italian cities clashes with the pope
Clashes were one reason German princes did not unite
German States Remain Separate German princes
electing the king weakened royal authority
German rulers controlled fewer lands
Less of a base of power like French and English kings