In this section you will find out how the Holy Roman emperors used their power.
You will also learn about the struggles between the popes and emperors.
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Vocabulary
Otto I: German king who ruled Germany and northern Italy and was crowned by the pope as Emperor of the Romans
Henry III: Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire at the height of its power
Henry IV: Son of Henry III who clashed with the Pope over the right of the king to appoint bishops of the German church
Pope Gregory VII: Pope who believed that rulers and ordinary people were subject to the will of the church and its pope, in direct
opposition to Henry IV of Germany
Frederick Barbarossa: Emperor who ruled Germany in the 1100s and tried to gain control of Italy but was defeated by the Lombard League
Innocent III: Strongest of the medieval popes, who strengthened the church and increased its world power
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Focus Questions:
1. In what major way was Henry III’s view of the church similar to the view of Charlemagne?
2. How were the aims of Gregory VII and Innocent III similar?
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Section 5 Summary
After Charlemagne died, Italy fell into disorder. His descendants inherited the title of Holy Roman Emperor but did not really rule Italy. The Byzantine Empire held parts of Italy. The pope ruled the Papal States. Arab Muslims ruled Sicily. In Germany, feudal lords elected Otto I their king in the 900s. Otto developed a strong kingdom in Germany. Then he seized territory in northern Italy. The pope asked Otto for help managing Roman nobles. He rewarded Otto by crowning him Emperor of the Romans. Although much smaller than Charlemagne’s empire, the Holy Roman Empire remained a major European power until the early 1800s. Weakened by internal divisions,
other European powers, and local nobles, imperial power declined until the emperor was only a figurehead. But Germany and Italy retained their close ties.
The reign of Emperor Henry III was the height of the empire’s power. Like Charlemagne, Henry viewed the church as a branch of the imperial government and
expected the pope to support the emperor. Henry removed three popes and elected a German pope. He then chose the next three popes. When Henry III died, his son, Henry IV, was five years old. German nobles and the church moved to restore power they had lost during his father’s reign. At age 15, Henry moved to strengthen his rule. He clashed with Pope Gregory VII, who believed that rulers and ordinary people were subject to the will of the church and its pope. Henry believed he had the right to appoint bishops. Gregory responded by excommunicating Henry and releasing Henry’s subjects from their vows of loyalty. Fearing rebellion, Henry sought the pope’s mercy. The pope kept Henry waiting in bitter cold for three days before meeting him. Finally, representatives of both sides settled the conflict in the German city of
Worms. The Concordat of Worms recognized the pope’s spiritual authority. But conflict between popes and emperors continued. Frederick I, known as Frederick Barbarossa (meaning “Red Beard”) ruled
Germany in the 1100s. In the northern Italian region of Lombardy, the great trading centers of Bologna, Padua, Verona, and Milan had grown increasingly independent. Frederick set out to conquer them for their wealth. When Milan resisted, Frederick destroyed the city. The other city-states, together with the pope, formed the Lombard League. They raised a powerful army that defeated Frederick. Their success showed the political power of cities in medieval Europe.
In the 1200s the strongest of the medieval popes, Innocent III, increased the church’s wealth and power. Like Gregory VII, he believed in the supreme power of the pope. Kings were mere servants of the church. Innocent III freely used his powers to control kings. He used the interdict against the kings of England and France. He replaced two German kings. Conditions in Europe and Innocent’s skill helped him build church power. Later popes lacked both, and papal power declined. The goal of uniting Germany and Italy was never achieved. Moreover, each country remained divided into independent cities and feudal states.
Answers to the focus questions:
1. In what major way was Henry III’s view of the church similar to the view of Charlemagne?
Henry III and Charlemagne both viewed the church as a branch of the imperial government and expected the pope to support the emperor.
2. How were the aims of Gregory VII and Innocent III similar?
Gregory VII and Innocent III both felt that rulers and ordinary people were subject to the will of the church and its pope. They both sought to expand the power of the church and control Europe's rulers.