Download The Holy Roman Empire and the Church

The Holy Roman
Empire and the Church
After
Charlemagne's death his
empire dissolved into separate
states.
Dukes of Saxony extended
power into Germany.
Otto I. became King of Germany
Otto’s later successors became
known as Holy Roman Emperor.
Problems
 German
emperors needed to control
vassals.
 Emperors had conflicts with the
Popes over the appointment of
Church officials.
Conflict Between Popes and
Emperors
 Pope
Gregory: Wanted to make
the Church independent of secular
rulers. Banned lay investiture.
 Emperor Henry IV: Feuded with
Pope Gregory over the ban of lay
investiture. Felt entitled to give the
symbols of the office of bishop.
Struggle Intensifies
 1076
Gregory excommunicated
Henry.
 To save his crown Henry repented his
sins.
 Gregory had no choice but to forgive
him.
Concordat of Worms
 Was
a treaty signed in 1122 where
both sides agreed the Church had
the sole power to elect and invest
Bishops.
 The emperor however could invest
them with fiefs.
 Frederick
II.: Weakened Germany
by becoming involved in Italy’s
affairs and spending little time in
Germany.
 Clashed with several Popes.
Height of Church
Power
 Pope
Innocent III.: Claimed
supremacy over all others.
 Clashed with many powerful rulers.
 Pope Innocent launched a brutal
crusade against the Albigensians
because the Albigensians wanted to
purify the Church.
Key Terms and People
 Otto
I.: Duke of Saxony who took
the title King of Germany.
 Innocent III.: Launched the
Albigensian Crusade.
 Henry IV.: Argued with the Church
over lay investiture.
 Crusade: Holy War
 Concordat of Worms: Treaty that
ended the investiture struggle.