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Medieval Church
Religious and Secular Power
The Medieval Catholic Church
 filled the power vacuum left from the
collapse of the classical world.

Religious Power
The Medieval Catholic Church
 filled the power vacuum left from the
collapse of the classical world.
 monasticism:
 St. Benedict – Benedictine Rule of
poverty, chastity, and obedience.
 provided schools for the children of
the upper class.
 inns, hospitals, refuge in times of war.
 libraries & scriptoria to copy books
and illuminate manuscripts.
 monks  missionaries to the
barbarians. [St. Patrick, St. Boniface]
The Power of the Medieval Church
 bishops and abbots played a large part in
the feudal system. (Church and Political)
 the church controlled about 1/3 of the
land in Western Europe.
 tried to curb feudal warfare  only 40
days a year for combat.
 curb heresies  crusades; Inquisition
 tithe  1/10 tax on your assets given to
the church.
 Peter’s Pence  1 penny per person
[paid by the peasants].
The Medieval Catholic Church
•- Life was harsh
•- life span was short
•- There was a good chance people would
meet their maker sooner than later
•- Sacraments- paved the way for salvation
A Medieval Monastery:
The Scriptorium
A Medieval Monk’s Day
Hierarchy of Church
Pope
Clergy
Bishops
Priests
- Similar to Feudal Heirarchy
Feudalism
A political, economic, and social
system based on loyalty and
military service.
Canon Law=Religious and Political
• All Christians subject to church law
• Marriage (Divorce), interpretation of scripture,
science etc.
Popes Main Threat= Excommunication
Excommunication
• Banishment from Church
• Believed to be more than just
a political slap on the wrist
• It was believed an instant
ticket to eternal damnation
• This was one of the popes
biggest power plays
• No Salvation/ all king’s vassals
were freed from their duties
Excommunication- Don
Swartzentruber
INTERDICT
• Sacraments and religious services could not be
performed in the King’s lands
• This would fire up all of the kings servant (they
didn’t want to be doomed to hell)
• Usually a king would relent and submit to
Pope…….for now!
ANGRY GOD CONCEPT
Hieronymus Bosch’s depiction of hell
CHURCH AND HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE
• AFTER CHARLEMAGNE WAS CROWNED HRE in
800, clashes would continue over secular and
religious rulers of the Western Christian world.
CAUSES #1
• Otto I (Otto the Great) wanted to limit power
of nobility (to make himself stronger) and
form an alliance with the Church
ACTIONS
Otto invaded Italy on the Pope’s behalf
Outcome #1
• Pope Crowns Otto emperor of a German
Italian nation which would go on to become
the Holy Roman Empire.
• It was the strongest state in Europe until 1100.
• Why is this important?
– This is going to create dissent in Italy. Future
Popes and Italian nobles won’t like to be ruled by
Germans (NATIONALISM)
– They will want power back// They’ll get it
CAUSE #2
• POPE resents control emperors have over
clergy (They are in some cases more loyal to
their political lord than the pope)
• LAY INVESTITURE- ceremony in which kings
and nobles appointed church officials
Actions #2
• Pope Gregory Bans lay investiture.
• OUTCOME #2
– Henry IV calls a meeting of bishops and orders
Gregory to step down from Papacy
– Political vs. Religious struggle (Secular)
Causes #3
• Gregory excommunicates Henry. Bishops and
princes side with the Pope. Henry begs for the
Popes Forgiveness when he travels to
Canossa.
PRIMARY SOURCE page 372
• There, having laid aside all the belongings of
royalty, wretchedly, with bare feet and clad in
wool, he 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
Outcome #3
• Henry is forgiven, returns home, and punishes
nobles. Why would he punish nobles?
• He’s humiliated, he’s been betrayed by some
who supported Pope. He punishes them.
Causes #4
• Issue of lay investiture remains undecided.
ACTIONS #4- Representatives of Church and
emperor meet in Worms.
Outcome #4
• Compromise is reached in which the emperor
has veto power over appointment of bishops,
but only the church can grant a the official
title of bishop.
• Why did people want these titles?
Causes #5
• Frederick’s brutality angers Italian merchants
and the Church. He constantly raided wealthy
cities in Italy and caused merchants and Pope
to unite in the Lombard League.
• ACTIONS: Lombard league fights in the Battle
of Legnano.
• OUTCOME #5- League soldiers defeat
Frederick’s feudal army; Frederick makes
peace with the POPE
HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE
• GERMANY WILL REMAIN SEPARATE despite
attempts to unite the lands under one ruler.
• Their system had German princes of different
provinces (372) elect a king. This weakens
royal authority.
Class Review
• #1) Describe the Church’s structure, power
and influence
• #2) List events in the power struggle between
popes and German emperor’s
• #3) Explain why Germany’s feudal states did
not unify during the Middle Ages
• HOMEWORK: PREPARE FOR TEST (374)