Papacy and Monarchy During the Middle Ages

Papacy and Monarchy During the Middle Ages

The Power of the Papacy in the Middle Ages

The purpose of this paper is the research the reason why the papacy became so empowered during the Middle Ages as well as why some of the Monarchies of the time were able to gain ore power than others in their relationship to the Church.

The period referred to as the 'middle ages' is the period in history between the fall of the last Roman emperor in the West which was in 476 A.D. And the fall of Constantinople to the Turks in the year 1453, and some account this period ending in 1492 with the discovery of America by Columbus. The papacy of the Roman Catholic Church became a major institution of political power during the early middle ages.

The Papacy's Rise to Power:

The papacy's rise to power can be accredited to their gain of great holdings and wealth during the middle ages. The ability of the church to gain holdings and wealth in the vast amounts in which they did is accredited to the fact that the church was not required to pay taxes during the middle- ages. Late in the middle ages tithes became a requirement under administration of law. The papacy's rise to power was realized under the rule of Gregory the Great. Under Gregory's rule the papacy acquired its' supremacy and according to the papacy the following were the reasons that the power of the church grew after the death of Charlemagne:

1. Weak kings of that day and time had a tendency to lean on the church authorities for support.

2. The powers of interdiction and excommunication held by the church increased the power of the papacy during this time period.

Gregory VII and the Saxon emperors were an ambitious and determined group which believed that all supremacy should be vested in the 'Holy See' and that the papacy should hold authority over all secular matters and elements. When Pope Innocent III came into power the powers vested in the papacy were greatly and further extended. Innocent granted to the papacy and to himself the vested power of making all decisions on disputes between the members of royalty, indeed even that of the Kings of countries as well as the right to settle disputes between kings and their subjects. Innocent also held the right to disempower those who questioned or rejected his authority and did in fact dethrone both Kings of England as well as the King of France instructing their countries that they did not have to follow the rule of the kings.

III. The King who maintained His Royal Power:

Otto, the son and successor of Henry I of Saxony relied on the Church but at the same time he gained allies through the church through land gifts and appointments of bishops and abbots throughout the land and were present with Otto and his troops in battle. The strategy was one utilized in this period by Kings who were successful in retaining their power in that they did not give up their power of succession to the members of the nobility such as was demonstrated by Henry of Saxony and his son Otto by the method of granting accommodations to the local powers of the feudal system while at the same time building their own strength and power.

Conclusion: