Christianity in Europe The main governing authority in medieval Europe was the Church. All medieval Christians, kings, and peasants alike were subject to canon law –Canon Law: Church law The church had courts who tried people accused of violating these laws

Two of the most severe punishments were excommunication and interdict 1. Excommunication: Banishment from the church and any type of after life

2. Interdict: Religious ceremonies and sacraments could not be performed in the king’s land. –This would anger all of the population under the king –This would force a German emperor or king to submit to the pope’s command

The Germanic Kingdoms Otto I or “Otto the great” is considered medieval Germany’s most effective ruler. Otto I followed the policies of his hero Charlemagne (A Frankish Ruler)

Otto I formed a close alliance with the Church –He built up his power by gaining the support of bishops and abbots (church leaders) This limited the powers and strengths of other nobles in Germany

Just like Charlemagne, Otto also invaded Italy on behalf of the pope. –Fought off Italian city invaders In 962, the pope rewarded Otto’s services by crowning him emperor.

The German-Italian empire Otto created was at first called the “Roman Empire of the Germanic Nation”. –It later became the Holy Roman Empire –It remained the strongest state in Europe until 1100 Otto assumed power of the WHOLE church in Germany Otto’s Empire

Though Otto served the Roman Empire, his alliance with the church created many future problems. –Future Popes and Roman nobles began to resent the power held by future Kings –Not happy that kings such as Otto had control over clergy men and their offices *clergy: members of the church

One of their biggest frustrations was with the practice of lay investiture –Lay investiture: A ceremony in which kings and nobles appointed church officials. –Whoever controlled lay investiture held the real power in naming bishops  Bishops were very influential clergy men Church officials felt that this power should belong to the church and not kings

In 1075, Pope Gregory VII banned lay investiture The furious young German Emperor Henry IV immediately called a meeting of the German bishops that he appointed. *Who’s side do you think the bishops chose? With their approval, Henry IV ordered Gregory to step down The Emperor vs. the Pope

How do you think Pope Gregory VII responded?

Gregory responded to his dismissal by excommunicating Henry and all of the people in his lands. –Henry and everyone under his jurisdiction was banished from the church and from any kind of after life –This outraged the emperor’s people! The Bishops and the princes then sided with the Pope.

To save his throne, Henry tried to win the pope’s forgiveness. In January 1077, Henry crossed the snowy Alps to the Italian town of Canossa. Gregory made Henry wait and beg for days outside of his castle in the snow before he finally ended his excommunication

Both Pope Gregory’s and Henry IV’s successors continued to fight over lay investiture until In that year, representatives of the church and the emperor met in the German city of Worms. –The Concordat of Worms –A compromise over lay investiture

The Compromise: The Church alone could appoint a bishop, but the emperor could veto the appointment.

Reign of Frederick I By 1152, the German nobility elected Frederick I as their King. Frederick was the first Germanic ruler to call the lands he ruled, the “Holy Roman Empire”.

Frederick’s kingdom wasn’t a fully-united land. –Many different feudal territories Frederick’s forcefulness and his military skills enabled him to dominate the Germanic nobles. –But whenever Frederick was absent, his kingdom was often challenged or invaded.

Though he once aided the wealthy Italian cities, Frederick turned against the cities that he once protected –Plundered and took from many of the Italian merchants –Money and products Not only were the merchants angered at the king’s actions, but so was the pope.

The Pope, church officials, along with many Italian merchants and civilians formed an alliance to challenge Frederick and his armies. –This alliance was known as the Lombard League

The Battle of Legnano The Lombard League vs Frederick I In 1176, the two forces met in battle.

In an astonishing victory, the Lombard League’s foot soldiers used crossbows to defeat feudal knights for the first time in history. * Non-professional soldiers vs. hired knights

In 1177, Frederick and the pope made peace. –Frederick returned to Germany  Leaving the Italian cities Frederick drowned in 1190 –After his death, his empire fell to pieces –Nobles led their armies to war trying to conquer one another.

German kings after Frederick, including his grandson Frederick II, continued their attempts to revive Charlemagne’s empire and his alliance with the church. The feudal states in Germany never unified into one empire during the Middle Ages