1. Lecture 14 The Church and Politics in Medieval Europe
Dr. Ann T. Orlando
18 October 2018

2. Introduction Review 10th-11th C Europe Church Scandal
Holy Roman Empire
Church Scandal
Simony
Married clergy
Papal elections
Lay Investiture
Medieval Monasticism

3. Review History
Muslim Arab armies conquer much of Eastern Empire, Southern Mediterranean, North Africa, Spain
Expansion into Europe stopped by Charles Martel (Charlemagne’s grandfather) and Pepin the Short (Charlemagne's father)
Charlemagne
United Western Europe
Crowned by Pope Leo III in 800
After Charlemagne
Kingdom divided between his sons
Infighting among them led to fracturing of political unity in Europe
Papal claims to political control in West
Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire)
Lost its southern Mediterranean territory to Arab armies
Increasingly unhappy with Western claims to be the ‘Roman’ Empire

4. Social and Economic Developments around 10th C
Population begins to rise, perhaps due to climate change; between 500 and 1000 AD:
Perhaps an increase of 30% in Western Europe
Increase of 75% in Eastern Europe
New settlements develop for increased population around newly developed farm land
Large land owners (feudal lords) control local economy and peoples (serfs)
Church develops a new system for ministry to new settlements: the parishes (parochiae)
To be a parish, the settlement needed a parish church
Priest from the local diocese was expected to live in the parish
Needed support of the people to maintain himself (benefice) and offer charity to needy parish members

5. Peace (Truce) of God Movement
Began in France in Le Puy (Aquitaine) in 975
‘Grassroots’ movement beginning in 10th C by priests and local bishops to protect people, especially the needy, and Church officials and property from violence
Needed because of the social disruption caused by dissolution of Carolingian dynasty
Rise of disorder and violence associated with the Vikings (Normans)
Peace of God local councils held throughout the 10 to 12 C

6. Developments in Holy Roman Empire (Germany, Austria, Northern Italy)
Otto I, the Great, ( ) established a strong kingdom in the center of Europe on the Carolingian model
Conquered northern Italy 951
Defeated Magyar invasions 955
Crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope John XII
Beginning of a concept last until 1806 (or maybe 1918)
Henry III (ruled ) powerful enough to control papacy
But his son, Henry IV was not

7. Pope and Holy Roman Emperor
Otto the Great, King of East Franks (Germans), King/Emperor ruled
Made bishops civil officials within his kingdom
Emperor gives the bishop the civil and religious symbols of his office
Beginning of ‘lay investiture’ controversy
Celibacy of bishops meant Otto did not have to worry about competing families to his own

8. Holy Roman Empire in 11th C

9. 10th C Papacy Century after Charlemagne and his successors
Political power in Europe shifted to Germany (Holy Roman Empire, Otto I)
Papal military and political alliances shaky
Popes of 10th C infamous for corruption and scandal
Cadaver Synod of 897; Pope Stephen VI ‘tried’ the corpus of his predecessor, Pope Formosus
Stephen VI subsequently strangled by his enemies
John XII (d. 964) supposedly died while making love to a prostitute
Benedict VI (d. 974) smothered by his political enemies
Papacy the instrument of competing aristocratic Roman families
Nepotism
Simony
Widespread sexual, fiscal abuse by clergy at all levels
Reform will come from monastery

10. Otto and Pope John XII (Part 1)
Pope John XII reigned
From wealthy Tuscan family
Led troops into battle in northern Italy
John established an alliance with Otto, who agreed to send troops to help John
John XII crowned Otto Holy Roman Emperor
In return agreement that no Pope could be elected without consent of Holy Roman Emperor

11. Otto and Pope John XII (Part 2)
Otto concerned about John’s personal morality, and seems to have lectured him about this
John concerned that Otto was becoming too powerful in Italy
John sends envoys to Magyars in Hungary and Byzantines suggesting an alliance against Otto
Otto discovers this and deposes John XII, establishes Leo VIII as ‘anti-pope’
Leo was a layman when ‘elected’ pope
Leo gave Otto the right to appoint bishops
The later portion of Leo’s pontificate is considered legitimate

12. Pope St. Leo IX (r. 1049-1054) French Benedictine
Tried to remove papacy from Roman family politics
Appointment of reforming cardinal bishops such as Peter Damian
Revised canon law in the “Collection in 74 Titles” which emphasized role of Pope as head of court of appeals
Tried to take strong action against married clergy leading to clerical riots
Tried to take strong action against simoniac bishops ordaining for money
Re-ordination controversy
Used “Donation of Constantine” against Patriarch Michael Cerularius in 1054
Strongly allied with HRE Henry III
Died after unsuccessful military campaign against Normans in Southern Italy

13. Pope Nicholas II (r )
Most significantly changed the way pontiffs were elected
By cardinal bishops
Approved by other cardinals
Approved by people of Rome
Attempt to exclude Roman family politics and HRE from exercising control over papal elections
Henry IV (son of Henry III) was only 6 at the time
Nicholas II also signed a peace treaty with the Normans, affirming kingship of Robert Guiscard in Sicily and southern Italy (over objections of the Germans)
In return, Normans promised to provide military support for any pope elected via the new procedure

14. Pope St. Gregory VII (1020-1085) Entered Cluny as a young man
Known as a reformer in the mold of Peter Damian
Elected Pope amid great dissention 1073
Key ecclesial changes in his pontificate
Deposition of all clergy who achieved office through simony
Forbade married priests to celebrate Mass
Most famous for encounter with Emperor Henry IV and lay investiture of bishops
Set stage for his successor Urban II
Crusades
Establishment of Curia and more efficient papal administration

15. Pope and HRE (cont.)
Pope Gregory VII assertion of Papal primacy, Dictatus Papae;
Emperor cannot invest bishops with symbols of office, or participate in election of Pope
Henry IV refuses to accept Dictatus Papae
Pope Gregory VII excommunicated Emperor Henry IV;
Henry repents at Canossa and is forgiven
But in 1081 Henry seeks revenge on Gregory, who is forced to flee Rome
Gregory dies in exile

16. Pope and HRE (cont.)
Concordat of Worms (1122)
Compromise resolves (temporarily) issues between Pope and Holy Roman Emperor
Agreement between Pope Calixtus II and Henry V
Pope selects bishops and abbots, and invests them with symbols of spiritual office
Emperor can invest bishops and abbots with lay responsibilities and be present at installation

17. Vital Social Role of Monasteries
Agricultural advances
Economic developments
Medicinal (hospitals)
Education
Support for pilgrims
‘Democratic’ advancement

18. Benedictine Organization
Once a monastery became ‘too’ large, another was established
‘Daughter’ monastery only loosely associated with ‘mother’ house
All monasteries follow the Rule, but Rule leaves many decisions under local control of individual abbot and communities

19. Problems with Benedictine Structure
Somewhat like bishops, monasteries become important objects of local control
Since there is no oversight through a ‘hierarchy’ of monasteries, some Benedictine monasteries become endowed and controlled by local wealthy families,
Especially true in France, from the time of Charlemagne

20. Monasticism: Cluny Charter for Foundation of Cluny, 910
Return to Benedict’s Rule; especially reading of Divine Office
But encouraged prayer and study over physical work
Established a series of daughter monasteries under the direction of the abbot of Cluny
While monks were poor, monasteries became wealthy
Encouraged development of visual arts in service of religion
Abbot Suger: ‘Man rises to God through beauty’

21. Romanesque Art: 10, 11th C Impact of Cluny
Example: Vezelay (where Bernard preached 2nd Crusade)

22. St. Peter Damian ( )
Entered a Cluniac Monastery near Gubbio, Italy
Deeply concerned about sexual license among clergy and corruption of papacy
Preached against simony
Through tireless preaching and teaching brought about some reforms
Close friends of Hildebrand (soon to be Pope Gregory VII)
Doctor of Church

23. Monasticism: Anchorites
Peter Damian suggested that a more hermetic life might be appropriate to get back to ‘the desert’ and spirituality
Peter Damian was a Camaldolese monk
Camaldolese founded in 1027 by St. Romauld to encourage more hermetic observance of the Benedictine Rule

24. Carthusians
Several new orders founded to encourage a more hermetic life, most famous Carthusians
Founded by St. Bruno ( ) in 1084
Named for motherhouse in Chartreuse
Each monk lives alone in silence following a new Rule written by St. Bruno
‘Never reformed because never deformed.’

25. Monasticism: Citeaux Reform of Cluny: Cistercians
Founded by St. Robert Molesme at Citeaux 1099
Return to strict adherence to Benedict’s Rule; work equal with prayer and study
Each monastery independent; that is, each had its own abbot
More severe artistic style
Bernard of Clairvaux most famous Cistercian ( )
Modern day Trappists; Spencer, MA.
SJS

26. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
Established Cistercian monastery at Clairvaux
Opposed Peter Abelard ( ): I must understand in order that I might believe
Opposed Cluny-type monasticism as being too interested in worldly beauty and pleasure
Preached the Second Crusade (1144)
Wrote very length commentary on Song of Songs in which he refers to both Gregory of Nyssa and Origen; highly allegorical
Special devotion to Mary
Encouraged mysticism that moved away from physical; apophatic
SJS

27. St. Bernard’s Devotion to Mary
Mary subject of many homilies
Author of famous Marian prayer
REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

28. Orders of Canons Regular
Considered a quid medium between monks and secular clergy
First developed during Charlemagne’s rule as part of clerical reform
Like monks
Lived in community
Prayed Divine Office together
Unlike monks
Ordination to priesthood expected
Responsible for teaching and preaching,
Often under direct authority of local bishop
Because of duties, followed “Augustine's Rule”

29. Canons Regular of Premontre (Norbitines)
Established by St. Norbert ( ) in 1120
An effort to create dedicated priests removed from temptations of secular world.
St. Norbert was a friend of St. Bernard, who encouraged him to found the Norbitines
Norbitines follow ‘Augustine's Rule’

30. Assignments
Charter of Cluny,
Pope Gregory VII, Dictatus Papae,
Bernard, Apology,