The Holy Roman Empire and the Church

Section 8-2pp. 251-254

Preview Questions

• Why did Holy Roman emperors fail to build a unified state in Germany?

• How did power struggles and rivalry in Italy affect popes and emperors?

• What powers did the Church have at its height?

The Holy Roman Empire

• In 962, Duke Otto of Saxony became the first Holy Roman Emperor– Holy: Crowned by pope– Roman: Saw selves as successors to Roman

Empire

The Holy Roman Empire

• Emperors struggled to control their vassals due to the sheer size of the Empire.

• German emperors resented the Cluny Reforms– Ended practice of emperors choosing clergy

Conflict Between Popes and Emperors

• Pope Gregory VII – Admired and hated by his

people – Ended practice of lay

investiture • Lay person presents bishops

with symbols of their office• Gregory argued that only

popes held this power

Conflict Between Popes and Emperors

• Emperor Henry IV– Holy Roman Emperor during time

of Pope Gregory – Supports lay investiture

• Since bishops were vassals, the emperor reserved the right to invest them with the symbols of their office

– German princes support Pope Gregory to weaken Henry’s power over them

Conflict Between Popes and Emperors

• The Struggle Intensifies – Gregory excommunicates

Henry • Creates chaos among

power hungry nobles of Holy Roman Empire

– Henry forced to seek forgiveness from the pope

– Later, Henry uses his army to force Gregory into exile

Conflict Between Popes and Emperors

• The Concordat of Worms (1122)– Treaty stating the Church

has the sole power to invest bishops with spiritual authority

– The Holy Roman Emperor retains the right to invest them with fiefs

The Struggle for Italy

• Frederick Barbarossa – Holy Roman Emperor who

dreamed of capturing wealthy northern Italy.

– Northern Italian cities successfully resisted capture by forming Lombard League with pope

– Frederick’s son Henry marries princess of Sicily, creating an alliance between HRE and Italy.

The Struggle for Italy

• Frederick II – Clashes repeatedly with several popes – Tried, but failed to capture northern

Italy

• Effects on Germany and Italy – Germany becomes very fragmented – French attempt to conquer Southern

Italy

The Height of Church Power

• Pope Innocent III– Symbolizes absolute power of the

Church – Clashed with rulers, but usually

victorious • John of England received interdict • Philip II of France received interdict • Frederick II lost power

– Led a Crusade against the Albigensians in France