1. End 9th c. Papacy becoming increasingly
corrupt
Early 10th c. Papacy contested between Roman
aristocrats
Pontificate of John XII, until deposed
by Otto I
advocates

2. Two issues provoking church reform movement:
Clerical marriage
Simony (selling church offices)
910 Berno and followers persuade Duke of
Aquitaine to found abbey at Cluny

3. Cluny Abbey free from feudal obligations
Emphasis on communal worship
Other Clunaic houses with priors answering
to abbot of Cluny, who answers to
pope

4. Other reform movements:
England: St Dunstan, with support of King
Edgar (r )
France: Monasteries reforming on Clunaic
model
Italy: Lay criticism of clerical corruption
Lotharingia/Lorraine: Reform of secular
and regular clergy, with imperial
support. Abbey at Gorze (education)

5. Papal reform movement, starting mid-11th c.
1046 Emperor Henry III takes control of
papacy
Pontificate of Leo IX
Cardinals, including Hildebrand,
Humbert, Peter Damian
1054 Humbert excommunicates Patriarch of
Constantinople

6. Apocalyptic expectations:
Reform movements aiming to provide
better clergy to lead people, incl.
with vernacular preaching
Expressions of concerns with eschatology
in literature (e.g. Anglo-Saxon
homilies and poetry, plays produced
at Gorze and elsewhere), art (sculpture
and manuscripts)