Aim: How did the Catholic
Church become the most
powerful and unifying force in
Medieval Europe?
Google images
The Age of Faith
• Why do you think that the Middle Ages in
Europe is also known as the Age of Faith?
www.lib.utexas.edu/.../plan_mediaeval_manor.jpg
The Hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church
The
Pope
Cardinals
Archbishops
Bishops
Priests
The Struggle for Power
vs.
Whose reign should be supreme?
The Investiture Controversy
• The focus of this controversy was lay
investiture- a process in which kings and
nobles appointed church officials. The end
result was that the political leader could
control powerful clergy. The Church
opposed this, feeling that bishops should
not be controlled by a king. In 1075 Pope
Gregory VII banned lay investiture.
Things Heat Up!
• “Henry, king not by usurpation, but by the
holy ordination of God, to Hildebrand, not
pope, but false monk…I, Henry, king by
the grace of God, with all my bishops, say
unto you: ‘Come down, come down [from
the papal throne], and be accursed
through all the ages.”
-Letter by Henry IV to Pope Gregory VII
City Curriculum
• Gregory excommunicated Henry. After
this, the German bishops and princes
sided with the pope. In an effort to save
his throne, Henry tried to win the pope’s
forgiveness.
How was excommunication a powerful weapon
of the Roman Catholic Church?
Showdown at Canossa, Italy
“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 on
the apostolic mercy until he had moved all
of those who were present there…”
Pope Gregory, cited in Basic Documents in Medieval History
Nothing Solved, Drama Aside
• After three days of standing in the snow in
Canossa, Pope Gregory VII forgave Henry IV.
• Henry returned home, humiliated.
• The question of lay investiture remained
undecided.
• Even at the Concordat of Worms (Germany) in
1122 did not help because even though the
Church alone could appoint a bishop, the
emperor had the power of veto (and could
prevent the appointment).
Medieval Sourcebook: Gregory VII: Dictatus
Papae 1090
(Excerpts)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
That the Roman church was founded by God alone.
That the Roman pontiff alone can with right be called universal.
That he alone can depose or reinstate bishops.
That, in a council his legate, even if a lower grade, is above all bishops, and
can pass sentence of deposition against them.
That the pope may depose the absent.
That, among other things, we ought not to remain in the same house with
those excommunicated by him.
That for him alone is it lawful, according to the needs of the time, to make
new laws, to assemble together new congregations, to make an abbey of a
canonry; and, on the other hand, to divide a rich bishopric and unite the
poor ones.
That of the pope alone all princes shall kiss the feet.
That his name alone shall be spoken in the churches.
That this is the only name in the world.
That it may be permitted to him to depose emperors.
That he may be permitted to transfer bishops if need be.
Fordham.edu
Excerpt of a letter from Pope
Innocent III (1198)
“The Creator set up two great lights in the
heavens; the greater light to rule the day the
lesser light to rule the night. In the same way,
the Church has set up two great lights on earth;
the greater light, being the Pope, to rule over
souls; the lesser light, being the king, to rule
over bodies. Just as the moon’s light comes
from the sun, does the power of the king come
from the Pope. The more closely a king is willing
to follow the Pope’s rule, the greater his light will
be.”
NYC Curriculum
An Age of Faith and Superstition
•
•
•
•
•
Faith in the Roman Catholic Church did not
erase superstitions in Medieval Europe. Below
were some common superstitions:
An evil witch could exchange a healthy child for
a sickly one (the “changling” was the substitute)
Preparing a table with three knives pleased
good fairies
A person could change into the shape of a wolf
The croak of a raven would bring bad luck
Meeting a priest would bring good luck
Patterns of Interaction
• Do you think we should have another Age of
Faith?
• Why or why not?