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THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE
AND THE CHURCH
The Holy Roman Empire
» Holy Roman Empire?
˃ Vast lands from Germany to
Italy
» Otto I > title > King of
Germany
˃ Good relationship w/ Church >
Pope in return crowns him
» German Emperors >
Problems?
˃ Controlling numerous vassals
˃ Appointment of Church
officials
 Popes wanted that power
Feud Between Pope and Emperor
 Henry IV (Emperor) vs. Gregory VII (Pope)
 Gregory wanted to make Church independent of secular rulers




 Banned practice of lay investiture
Henry & Gregory exchange nasty letters
 German princes side w/ Pope
Gregory excommunicates Henry
Henry makes peace > repents as a sinner
Henry leads an army to Rome > Gregory exiled
 Concordat of Worms
 Treaty that both sides accepted
The Struggle for Italy
 German emperors wanted Italy
 Came into conflict with the Pope again!!!
 Fredrick I (Fredrick Barbarossa)
 Tried to control wealthy cities of northern
Italy
 Fails
 Fredrick II attempted the same thing
 Also fails
 Empire > patchwork of feudal
states

Germany will not become a state for another
600 yrs.
 Italy > faced centuries of upheaval as well
Church Power Reaches Its Height
 1200s > peak of Church power
 Papal Supremacy
 Pope Innocent III claims supremacy over all
other rulers
 Clashed with King John (England) and Philip
II (France)
 Launched a crusade against Albigensians?
 Rejected Catholic beliefs
 Strengthened papal power within the Church