The Power of the Church WH-­‐13.4 Notes Structure of the Church •  Power based on status. 1.  Pope – head of the catholic church 2.  Bishops – supervised the priests and se@led disputes over Church teachings and pracCces. 3.  Priests – main contact between the public and the Church. UniCng People •  Church united people as ChrisCans –  Follow the same teachings and prac9ces. •  Sacraments –important religious ceremonies. Delivered by the clergy – Church officials like priests and bishops. –  Allow all people to achieve salvaCon •  Church as the religious and social center for local villages. Church Law •  Everyone had to follow canon law – church law –  Dealt with marriage, religious pracCces, etc. •  Church established courts to try people accused of viola9ng canon law. Punishments •  Pope used excommunica9on (banishment from the Church) to wield poliCcal power. –  ExcommunicaCon resulted in a denial of salva9on and vassals freed from their du9es. •  Interdict, many sacraments and religious ceremonies could not be preformed in the king’s land. –  Forced the king to submit to the pope’s will. O@o the Great •  O@o I followed Charlemagne's example. •  Created an alliance with the Church –  Limited the power of the nobles by gaining the support of the bishops and abbot. •  Invaded Italy on the pope’s behalf – 962 crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Conflict with the Pope •  The Church was opposed to lay invesCture – power of the kings to appoint church officials. –  Held real power in naming the bishops who were very influenCal. •  1075 Pope Gregory VII banned lay inves9ture –  Henry IV calls for Gregory VII to step down and is excommunicated. –  Henry IV forced to apologize. Concordat of Worms •  1122 representaCves of the Church and the emperor met in Worms. •  Concordat of Worms – only the Church could appoint a bishop but the emperor could veto the appointment. Fredrick I •  Fredrick I – elected ruler of the Holy Roman Empire. •  Invaded the rich lands of Italy. •  Lombard League – alliance between the pope and Italian merchants •  1176, Fredrick defeated by the Lombard League and returned to Germany. •  1190 – empire falls apart. UnificaCon of Germany •  German kings unable to unify Charlemagne's empire. –  Conflict with the Church over con9nued invasions in Italy –  System of elecCng the German king weakened royal authority.