Today I learned about The Gregorian Reform Part II.
- Pope St. Gregory VII, r. 1073-1085
- Why are my reform decrees not sticking?
- Can’t appoint his own people
- Pope’s authority in spiritual matters generally acknowledged
- But what is his role within Christendom?
- King’s role: establish peace and order, so people could pursue Christian journey
- If he doesn’t, he is a tyrant
- But who decides?
- Gregory VII: the pope
- Why are my reform decrees not sticking?
- Against lay investiture
- Appointment and ritual institution of Church officials by laymen
- Bishops and abbots invested with scepter and ring and staff
- Laymen appeared to be distributing spiritual authority
- Feudal monarchs depended on churchmen to assist in administration of realms
- Issue most serious in the Holy Roman Empire
- Showdown: Pope St. Gregory VII vs. Henry IV
- 1075, Gregory holds a council
- Clerics invested by laymen deposed
- Laymen doing the investing to be excommunicated
- Henry IV needs bishops to offset power of nobles
- Disputed election for bishop of Milan brings issue to a boil
- Henry appoints his choice in Milan, and then in other places
- Pope demands he cease
- Gregory excommunicates Henry
- But also declares him deposed
- Henry, faced with rebellion, must submit
- Early 1077, meeting at Canossa
- Excommunication lifted
- Crushes nobles who had moved against him
- Three years later, excommunicated again
- This time, drives pope out of Rome
- 1085, Gregory dies
- “I have loved justice and hated iniquity; therefore I die in exile”
- 1075, Gregory holds a council
- Concordat of Worms, 1122
- Consequences of Investiture Controversy in northern Italy
Connor's corner 