Religion and European society were embroiled in a complex set of controversies after the fall of Rome and between the age of Religious Wars. The question of who would appoint men to ecclesiastical offices like that of Abbot or Bishop was wrestled with between European monarchies and the Popes of Rome. This argument would affect the lives of people at all levels, from peasants to nobles, and would not find a resolution until the Concordat of Worms in 1122 AD.
At first after the fall of Rome, it was commonplace for investiture, or the awarding of an ecclesiastical office, to be given by secular authorities, though by rights this was the province of the Church (Blumenthal). Unfortunately, this method did not mean the best-qualified person was always awarded the position. It often meant that a Monarch’s favorites received the appointments, or that the position was even sold to the highest bidder. The selling of a Church position like that of Bishop is a sin known as simony (Weber).
European monarchies and Rome were always at odds over who had the ultimate power. Pope Gregory VII, in 1075 AD, proclaimed the Dictatus papae, which stated that the Church of Rome was solely founded by God, and that a Pope was the only leader of power that could appoint, remove, or move men from an ecclesiastical office (Appleby). At first, this move was disadvantageous for Pope Gregory VII because he excommunicated the German King, Henry IV, but later this move was favorable for him because German noble people were glad that Henry IV was removed as king so they could claim royal lands as their own (Halsall).
Overall, the controversies between the Church and Monarchies were beneficial to the noblemen and detrimental to the peasants. As the Monarchies broke down under rebellions and the machinations of the noblemen to seize royal land, the noblemen increased their power over the peasants on their lands, resulting in higher taxes and less rights for the common people (Hearder and Waley). Yet, the devoutness of the common people during this time of the common people increased as overall the strength of the Church of Rome increased.
Finally, in 1122 AD, The Concordat of Worms, or Pactum Callixtinum, was agreed upon by Pope Callistus II and Henry V (Kelly and Ojetti). This Concordat stated that elections of Bishops and Abbots should be conducted in front of the emperor, contested elections should be decided by the emperor, that the emperor would renounce spiritual investiture but have the right of lay investiture, the emperor promised to protect the Roman Church and restore possessions belonging to the Holy See, and that the Pope should not disturb the people who were on the emperor’s side during the controversies (Kelly and Ojetti).
For a time, this agreement would settle disputes of power between Rome and European Monarchies. However, controversies would continue because this Concordat essentially reduced Kings to Laymen, implying that the divine right of kings as appointed by God was nullified (Jordan). Many more controversies, Crusades, and other changes to the political landscape were following on the horizon after the Concordat of Worms.
Works Cited
Appleby, R. Scott. How the pope got his political muscle. U.S. Catholic 64.9 (1999): 36. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 4 Hune 2012.
Blumenthal, Uta-Renate. The Investiture Controversy: Church and Monarchy from the Ninth to the Twelfth Century. University of Pennsylvania Press, 1988.
Halsall, Paul. Medieval Sourcebook: Gregory VII: First Deposition and Banning of Henry IV (Feb 22, 1076).” Internet Medieval Source Book. 6/2/2010
Hearder and Waley, eds. A Short History of Italy: From Classical Times to the Present Day, 1963.
Jordan, William C. Europe in the Middle Ages. Penguin History of Europe. Viking, 2003.
Kelly, Leo and Ojetti, Benedetto. "Concordat." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 4. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908. 4 Jun. 2012
Weber, Nicholas. "Simony." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 4 Jun. 2012
