the holy roman empire and the church section 8-2 pp. 251-254
TRANSCRIPT
Preview Questions
• Why did Holy Roman emperors fail to build a unified state in Germany?
• How did power struggles and rivalry in Italy affect popes and emperors?
• What powers did the Church have at its height?
The Holy Roman Empire
• In 962, Duke Otto of Saxony became the first Holy Roman Emperor– Holy: Crowned by pope– Roman: Saw selves as successors to Roman
Empire
The Holy Roman Empire
• Emperors struggled to control their vassals due to the sheer size of the Empire.
• German emperors resented the Cluny Reforms– Ended practice of emperors choosing clergy
Conflict Between Popes and Emperors
• Pope Gregory VII – Admired and hated by his
people – Ended practice of lay
investiture • Lay person presents bishops
with symbols of their office• Gregory argued that only
popes held this power
Conflict Between Popes and Emperors
• Emperor Henry IV– Holy Roman Emperor during time
of Pope Gregory – Supports lay investiture
• Since bishops were vassals, the emperor reserved the right to invest them with the symbols of their office
– German princes support Pope Gregory to weaken Henry’s power over them
Conflict Between Popes and Emperors
• The Struggle Intensifies – Gregory excommunicates
Henry • Creates chaos among
power hungry nobles of Holy Roman Empire
– Henry forced to seek forgiveness from the pope
– Later, Henry uses his army to force Gregory into exile
Conflict Between Popes and Emperors
• The Concordat of Worms (1122)– Treaty stating the Church
has the sole power to invest bishops with spiritual authority
– The Holy Roman Emperor retains the right to invest them with fiefs
The Struggle for Italy
• Frederick Barbarossa – Holy Roman Emperor who
dreamed of capturing wealthy northern Italy.
– Northern Italian cities successfully resisted capture by forming Lombard League with pope
– Frederick’s son Henry marries princess of Sicily, creating an alliance between HRE and Italy.
The Struggle for Italy
• Frederick II – Clashes repeatedly with several
popes – Tried, but failed to capture northern
Italy
• Effects on Germany and Italy – Germany becomes very fragmented – French attempt to conquer Southern
Italy