The Investiture Controversy Week 2, Lecture 4 HIST 114B

The Investiture Controversy What were the main challenges facing the Church at the end of the 11 th century? How did Pope Gregory VII envision the relationship between political and spiritual authority? How did the Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV respond to Gregory VII? What did Henry IV claim was the basis of his authority?

Reform Issues, 11 th Century Ideal papal worldview: secular rulers under guidance of bishops and priests, all under guidance of the pope. Problems in the church: –Clerical celibacy –Simony –Interference from lay powers

Reform Popes Leo IX (r ) –Tackled celibacy and simony Nicholas II (r ) –College of Cardinals; free election of popes Alexander II (r ) –“freely” elected! Thanks, Hildebrand! –Took reform to Spain and England

Kings of Germany / Holy Roman Emperors Henry III (r ) –Supported moderate papal reform, but let’s not go TOO far Henry IV (r ) –Inherited the throne at age 6; ten-year minority Pope Alexander II dies in 1073, and Hildebrand is elected  Pope Gregory VII –(r )

Pope Gregory VII Image: 11 th cent. manuscript illustration

Tackling Lay Investiture Definition: investing of a bishop or an abbot with the insignia of his office by a lay person (usually a king or prince) Complexities: lay rulers see divine right, ecclesiastics hold secular duties Gregory VII sees unacceptable amounts of lay interference

Milan, 1070s

Milan, cont. Bishops oppose reform Patarini (“ragpickers”) push reform Henry IV appoints new bishop... All hell breaks loose

Henry vs. Gregory Henry: God chose me to rule! Gregory: God chose me to rule YOU! –Dictatus Papae (Dictates of the Pope): 1075? Excommunication and consequences The “Walk to Canossa”

Canossa, 1077 Gregory VII Henry IV Matilda of Tuscany

Henry vs. Gregory, cont. A challenger for the throne: Rudolph of Swabia An antipope: Clement III Normans: sack Rome, 1084 Gregory VII: dies in exile in Salerno, 1085

Henry vs. Urban II Pope Urban II (r ) Matilda of Tuscany Eupraxia-Adelheide, Henry’s Queen Anti-king Conrad I of Italy, Henry’s son Death of Henry IV, 1106 Henry V, r

Henry V vs. Paschal II Pope Paschal II (r ) Compromise of 1111: –Bishops and abbots give up their lands –“The Church will remain free.” –Offer not taken

Concordat of Worms, 1122 Pope Calixtus II (r ) A working compromise: –No more “lay investiture” –Kings give bishops/abbots the symbols of their secular office –Monks or priests elect the bishop/abbot and give him the symbols of his spiritual office –Preserves quite a bit of the king’s influence over the process!