World History
Chapter 13D
The Church Wields Power
The Scope of Church Authority
• The Catholic Church starts to control not only the
Church but also the Kingdoms in Europe
• This leads to conflict throughout the Middle Ages
• The Church Structure:
1. The Pope is the head of the Church and he lives
in Rome
2. Bishops supervised priests and they settled
disputes over religious practices and teachings
3. The priest was the lowest ranking clergy and he
served as a local contact with the people
The Church Used religion to Unify
Europe
• The Church provided stability in times of
turmoil
• The Middle Ages are called “The Age of
Faith”
• Priests and religious officials administered
sacraments (important religious ceremonies).
These sacraments are seen as the way to
eternal salvation
Church Justice
• All Christians were subject to Cannon LawThe law of the Church. The Church
establishes courts and these tried people who
violated cannon law
• There are numerous penalties for breaking
Cannon Law. The two most severe penalties
were:
Continued
1. Excommunication-This meant getting kicked
out of the Church. This meant that you were
surely going to go to Hell
2. Interdict-this was a ban on religious services
and sacraments in a whole country or region
The Church and The Holy Roman
Empire
• The Holy Roman Empire came into being after
the death of Charlemagne
• It all starts with Otto I and he becomes King of
Germany in 936
• He admired Charlemagne
• He limited the power of the nobles
• He gained the support of the Bishops and Abbots
(the heads of Monasteries)
• For his efforts in helping the Pope in Italy he was
crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 962
Holy Roman Emperor Otto I
The Holy Roman Emperor Clashes
with the Pope
• Conflicts arise between the Holy Roman
Emperor and the Pope
• The Pope begins to resent the power and
influence of the Holy Roman Emperor
• The Pope also wants control over Lay
Investiture. This is defined as the appointment
of Church officials by kings
• In 1075 Pope Gregory VII bans Lay Investiture
Conflict Over this Continues Until
1122
• The Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor reach
a compromise called the Concordat of
Worms
• Only the Pope can appoint Bishops
• The Holy Roman Emperor can veto any
appointment
The Concordat of Worms
Frederick I
• The German Princes realize they need a strong
Emperor and they elect Frederick I
• His nickname is Barbarossa
• He dominated but did not fully control the
numerous German Princes
• The Pope, along with several rich Italian cities,
formed the Lombard League to fight Frederick
• The League defeats Frederick at the Battle of
Legano-the first time in history where foot
soldiers defeat mounted knights
Frederick I
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