Aim: How did the clash of rulers and the Church hinder the creation of unified states

in Germany and Italy?

Do Now: Eleanor of Aquitaine, 1-3

The Orb, Scepter and Crown, insignia of the Holy Roman EmpireThese objects, dating from Otto I in the 10th Century, were brought

to Frankfurt for every imperial coronation

I. The Holy Roman EmpireCharlemagne’s descendants inherited the title“Holy Roman Emperor” but did not rule Italy

I. The Holy Roman EmpireThe Byzantine Empire held parts of Italy, thepope ruled the Papal States, and Arab Muslimsruled Sicily

A. The Holy Roman Empire (Germany)

• The view of kings as holy and untouchable

-- “Divine right theory of kingship”

• Original power of the HRE

• Origins of political instability and fragmentation of monarchical power

Otto I

• 936 Otto I became King of Germany.

• Otto developed close ties to Church in order to centralize his power in Germany.

• In exchange, Otto gained right to appoint German bishops and archbishops.

• Otto invaded Italy to protect the Pope from Italian nobles.

The Holy Roman Empire962 - Pope John XII crowned Otto I “Emperorof the Romans” as a reward for suppressing Roman nobles

Emperor Otto III (983-1002) Crown of the Holy Roman Emperor

I. The Holy Roman EmpireOtto ruled Germany and northern Italy; the HREbecame a major power in Europe until the 1800s

The Holy Roman Empire in the 1500s

Otto was now the first Emperor in the West since Charlemagne.

However, his attempt to re-create an Empire like Charlemagne’screated tensions – particularly with Italian nobles who resented growing German strength. For 250 years, German emperors were involved in Italian affairs.

The Popes also came to resent the power German emperors held over church clergy in Germany and even northern Italian principalities.

EUROPE, 1000 A.D.

E A S T E R N

I. The Holy Roman EmpireHenry III ruled at the height of the empire’spower; he viewed the church as a branch of theimperial government

Henry III , called the Black or the Pious, German king (1028-1056) and Holy Roman emperor (1046-1056)

I. The Holy Roman EmpireHenry removed three anti-popes, selected aGerman pope, and then chose the next threepopes

Pope Clement II, the first pope placed on the throne by the power of the German emperors

II. Struggles between Popes and KingsHenry son, Henry IV, tried to strengthen hisrule but clashed with Pope Gregory VII

Victory of St. Gregory VII over the pretensions of the Emperor. In the picture, the latter is at the right of and one step lower than the Pope.

II. Struggles between Popes and KingsPope Gregory believed the church wassupreme; rulers and ordinary people weresubject to the church and the pope

II. Struggles between Popes and KingsHenry practiced lay investiture; Gregoryexcommunicated Henry and released hissubjects from their vows of loyalty

1076 – Pope Gregory VII excommunicates Emperor Henry IV

II. Struggles between Popes and KingsFearing rebellion, Henry sought the pope’smercy; the pope revoked his excommunicationin 1077

Meeting at Canossa in 1077 – Henry, Gregory, and Matilda

CAUSES ACTIONS OUTCOMES

Pope Gregory excommunicates H.R.E. Henry IV;German bishops & princes side with the pope (fearing an interdict);Henry must seek the Pope’s forgiveness.

Henry IV travels to Canossa.

Henry is forgiven by the pope, returns home,and then punishes his German nobles for siding with the pope.

The issue of lay investiture would remain undecided for another century.

Representatives of Church and the emperor meet in Worms.

Compromise is reached:Only the pope could now promote priests to be bishops in any kingdom; but the emperor would be given veto power over any selection he didn’t like.

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

The Concordat of Worms is signed in 1122.

II. Struggles between Popes and Kings1122 – The investiture controversy was settledwith the Concordat of Worms, which limited imperial authority and recognized the pope’s spiritual authority

The Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV’s struggle with the Popeprovided a chance for German princes in the Empire to regain much of the power they had lost under Otto.

A later German ruler, Frederick I, would resume the battle to assert royal authority over these princes.

While Frederick was the first to actually call the German lands the “Holy Roman Empire” it was anything but a unified empire – rather, a patchwork of princely states.

EUROPE, 1000 A.D.

E A S T E R N

Poor

Rich

II. Struggles between Popes and KingsFrederick Barbarossa (Frederick I ) conqueredthe region of Lombardy and destroyed Milan

Frederic I Barbarossa and his sons King Henry IV and Duke Frederick V

A. The Holy Roman Empire (cont)

• HRE seeks a power base outside of Germany in northern Italy and Sicily

• Frederick I (Barbarossa)• Frederick II (1212-1250)

was the first feudal monarch to establish a centralized administration and an army of soldiers paid in cash

II. Struggles between Popes and KingsItalian city-states and the pope formed theLombard League, raised a powerful army, and defeated Frederick

Frederick defeated at Parma

Instead of focusing on building up his royal power in the German states,Frederick repeatedly invaded the rich cities of Italy.

CAUSES ACTIONS OUTCOMES

Frederick’s brutal acts angered the wealthy Italian merchants who formed the Lombard League.

Lombard League fights Frederick’s army at the Battle of Legnano.

The Italian foot soldiers of the Lombard Leagueusing crossbowsdefeat Frederick’s feudal army of mounted knights.

Frederick is forced to make peace with the Pope,

a weakened ruler among his German princes back home.

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

. 6

Reason why German states Remain Separate and not a Unified Nation

• German kings getting involved in Italian politics led to continued disruptive clashes.• The system of German princes being the ones to elect the king only weakened royal authority.• German rulers controlled fewer “royal lands” in their kingdom to use as a base of power. (Unlike English and French kings who would quickly establish strong central authority and create the first Nation-states in Europe…

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

Church Reform

• Many devout Christians called for reforms– Began in monasteries

• Goal of reforms:– Free Church from control of feudal lords

• Reforms:– Pope would be chosen by cardinals– Pope would appoint bishops and other

officials

Pope Innocent III

• R. 1198-1216• The most powerful of the

medieval popes– well educated in both canon

law and theology

– the dominant figure in Europe during his papacy

Fighting Heresy

• Pope Innocent III- condemned drunkenness, feasting, and dancing among clergy

• Stop spread of heresy (denial of basic church teachings)– Convert first/ crush later

The Inquisition

• Court set up to seek out and punish heretics– Many accused without proof

• Punishments- prison or death

Francis of Assisi

• 1182-1226• Founder of the Franciscan Order and one of the most honored

saints of the Catholic faith• Below: trying to convert the Egyptian sultan

II. Struggles between Popes and Kings1200s: Innocent III, strongest of the medieval popes, increased the church’s wealth andpower

Pope Innocent III (c. 1161 – June 16, 1216), pope from January 8, 1198 until his death

II. Struggles between Popes and KingsInnocent III believed in the supreme power ofthe pope and used excommunication and theinterdict to maintain control

II. Struggles between Popes and KingsThe goal of uniting Germany and Italy wasnever achieved; they remained divided intoindependent cities and feudal states