How successful was the papacy in strengthening its authority 1073-99? Flashcards
(52 cards)
until the late 11th century, who usually appointed and controlled the popes?
the Holy Roman Emperor
when did the Struggle between temporal power of the Kings and the spiritual pressure of the popes come to a head?
the reign of Gregory VII (1073-85)
how did Gregory VII rebel against the power of the HRE?
- He began to oppose the H.R.E and insisted that the Pope controlled the church and, effectively, control the H.R.E.
- Emperor Henry IV was driven out by a revolt amongst German nobles to make peace with the Pope so in January 1077 Henry IV appeared before Gregory VII at Canossa and stood bare foot in the snow for three days begging Gregory for forgiveness.
why did Gregory VII rebel against the power of the HRE?
- He attempted to assert more control over the appointment of bishops (investiture) and was attempting to create a Christian society under papal control
- He believed that the Church, founded by God, was supreme over all human structures, especially the secular state and that the pope, as head of the Church, was vice-regent of God on earth, so disobedience to him implied disobedience to God.
what were the 3 main aims and objectives of the papacy 1073-99?
- Establishing independence and control over investiture
- Improving relations with Byzantium
- Establishing papal dominance over secular authority
what evidence is there that the papacy was successful in establishing independence and control over investiture 1073-99?
- Maintenance of College of cardinals
- Gregory VII asserted that only the pope had the authority to appoint church officials
- Emperor Henry IV defeated by Urban II and his allies
- Clement III did not prevail over the ‘reform’ papacy in the long term.
how did the college of cardinals maintain the papacy’s independence?
by electing the pope; Gregory VII carefully maintained independence from the H.R.E through this as imperial interference was heavily reduced
which pope’s were elected by the college of cardinals?
Both Victor III (1086-1087) and Urban II (1088-1099) were elected and were equally independent popes
why was Gregory VII’s assertion that only the pope had the authority to appoint church officials important?
in doing this, he was seeking to overturn a widely accepted royal prerogative that kings had exercised across Europe - this was important, as priests were both spiritual and administrative officials
where was Papal authority over investiture claimed?
in dictatus papae
where was Lay investiture fully forbidden in 1078?
roman synod
what was lay investiture was described as causing at the roman synod in 1078?
causing the Christian faith ‘to be trampled underfoot’
why was Emperor Henry IV’s defeat by Urban II important?
- he could not reassert his authority in Germany
- Urban II was free to organise a series of councils though which he could promote reform
- allowed greater church reform at Piacenza (March 1095) and Clermont (November 1095) without imperial interference.
who was Clement III?
the anti-pope 1080-1100 est. by HRE)
what evidence suggests that the papacy improved relations with byzantium 1073-99?
- 1074: Gregory VII promised to send aid to Emperor Michael VII against the Seljuk Turks.
- 1095: First crusade was the response to Alexius’ letter in an attempt to improve relations and reflected fears of being outmanoeuvred by Clement III
- First Crusade recaptured major parts of Anatolia for the Byzantines
which pope promised to send aid to Emperor Michael VII against the Seljuk Turks?
gregory vii
what does Gregory VII’s promise to send aid to Emperor Michael VII against the Seljuk Turks reflect?
illustrates how the conception of the milicia Dei was becoming an integral part of the papacy’s policy towards Mediterranean politics
which parts of anatolia did the first crusade recapture for the byzantines?
1097: Nicaea and decisively defeated the Sultan of Rum (Dorylaeum)
what evidence is there that the papacy increased its dominance over secular authority 1073-99?
- Gregory VII used the doctrines within Dictatus Papae to claim dominance.
- Gregory VII established the milites Christi against his opponents in the name of God.
- Matilda of Tuscany helped defend the papacy along with German nobles
- The papacy made its presence felt in the Mediterranean as a whole
- Spanish kingdom of Aragon became a papal vassal.
- First Crusade was a huge success in terms of the large military force that was assembled due to the call of the papacy.
what did dictatus papae claim?
- that the pope alone was rightly called universal
- that the pope alone had the power to depose and reinstate bishops
- that the pope alone may use the imperial insignia
- that all princes must ‘kiss the foot’ of the pope
- that the pope had the power to depose emperors
- that the pope could be judged by no one
- that the pope had the power to absolve subjects from their oath of fealty to wicked rulers
where did the pope’s authorty come from, according to gregory vii?
asserted that the pope was head of the church because he was the spiritual successor of St Peter - ‘Petrine Authority’
who were the milites Christi?
laymen who fought on papal behalf and gained salvation by their actions
how did Gregory VII use the milites Christi to assert papal dominance over secular authority?
- the milites Christi helped to defend papal territorial interests within the Italian peninsula, and in the wider field of Christian militancy against Islam in the Mediterranean
- e.g. Gregory VII employed the concept of a milicia Dei to the forces deployed on papal behalf by Matilda of Tuscany
what was the history of papal reform support in matilda of tuscany’s family?
Matilda of Tuscany’s mother, Beatrice, had supported reform popes since Leo IX
