FRANCE IN THE MIDDLE AGES

We have already learned about the Franks. The Franks were the people who settled in what is now France, and became the French. Clovis – united the Franks; 1st king; started the Merovingian dynasty Charles Martel-Mayor of the Palace, who defeated the Moors at the battle of Tours Pepin the Short-inherited the title Mayor of the Palace; ousted the last Merovingian and became king Charlemagne-greatest king of the Franks; conquered more land and ruled the great Carolingian Empire.

After Charlemagne died, his grandsons fought over his empire, and it was eventually divided into 3 parts by the treaty of Verdun in 843. The western kingdom of Charles the Bald (+ a little more) would eventually become France

In 987, the last Carolingian king (descendant of Charle magne) died. The nobles in what had been the western kingdom chose Hugh Capet to be King of France. Hugh Capet and his descendants, known as the Capetians, ruled France for more than 300 years.

Hugh Capet was chosen in 987 to be “king of France”, but really he only controlled a small area called the Ile-de-France. Feudal lords ruled the rest of France, known as duchies.

The Capetian kings aimed to unite the duchies of France under the rule of the French monarchy. Gradually this is what they did. The Capetian kings gradually increased the lands under their control in several ways Married noblewomen whose dowries included great fiefs Took control of the lands of noble families that had died out. Conquered lands held by the English kings.

In 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, conquered England, and controlled both England and Normandy. Through inheritance from both sides, and his wife’s dowry, in 1180 Henry II, king of England, actually controlled over half of France.

Philip II (Augustus) 1180-1223 King Philip II, called Philip Augustus, ruled from 1180-1223. When he became king of France, Henry II was King of England. He waited until John was king of England. When John was king of England, he waged military campaigns and took much of the English held land, thus greatly increasing the royal landholdings.

The Capetian kings continued to increase the lands over which they had direct control The Capetian kings appointed well trained officials, often of the middle class, to run the government. They extended the jurisdiction of the royal courts. The Parliament of Paris, the highest royal court, became like a supreme court.

Louis IX (St. Louis) 1226-1270 Another important king during this period was Louis IX, who was very religious, and was eventually made a Saint. He was regarded as a very wise and fair ruler. He freed the serfs of France. He also went on the 7th and 8th Crusades. He died on the 8th Crusade.

Philip IV (the Fair) 1285-1314 Wanted to tax the clergy of France, and ordered them to pay taxes. Pope Boniface VIII ordered the French clergy not to pay taxes to the French king. Boniface the VIII excommunicated Philip IV. .

Philip IV vs. Pope Boniface VIII Philip IV had agents kidnap Pope Boniface VIII Pope Boniface was rescued, but died soon after. Philip IV used his influence to get a Frenchman, Clement V, elected as the next Pope. Clement V moved the papal residence from Rome to Avignon, a city near the French border.

Philip IV (the Fair) 1285-1314 Philip IV moved to increase his popularity with the people by starting a representative assembly, the Estates General. The Estates General was an assembly of representatives of the 3 social classes (“estates”) of France: Nobles, Clergy, Commoners. The Estates General however, never had as much power in France, as Parliament did in England, because it was merely advised the king.

The Capetians intended to increase the power of the kings of France, and did, to a certain extent. However, the nobles of France still had much power, and France continued to be feudal in political organization. The Capetian dynasty died out in 1328. Philip IV had 3 sons, but none produced an heir. A new dynasty, the Valois, came to power.

HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE There was no country called “Germany” in the Middle Ages. There was a German language, but no country called “Germany” until the 1800’s. Instead, there was the “Holy Roman Empire”

HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE It was a country, or more precisely, a loosely joined group of Duchies in central Europe, mainly what is now Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic and Northern Italy.

Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic and Northern Italy.

This is how it started: Charlemagne was crowned “Roman Emperor” by the Pope in 800AD. He ruled a large area of western and central Europe. Some historians consider him the 1st Holy Roman Emperor, although this may be confusing. Soon after his death, his empire began to break up. The Holy Roman Empire of the Middle Ages actually grew out of the kingdom of Louis the German and part of the kingdom of Lothair.

How the H.R.E. started. After the treaty of Verdun, for a while a descendant of Charlemagne held the title “Roman Emperor” of this region. Then the descendants of Charlemagne died out. For a while, no one held the title.

How the H.R.E. started. In the 900’s, Otto I, Duke of Saxony, began conquering and uniting the other Duchies of the region. In 936AD Otto the 1st was crowned “King” of the German states. Then Otto conquered northern Italy, but not Rome. In 962AD, the Pope asked Otto I to help put down a rebellion of Roman nobles. Then the Pope crowned him “Roman Emperor”. This was regarded as a revival of Charlemagne’s title, although the region he ruled did not include France (or Rome). Gradually people began to use the term “Holy Roman Emperor” instead of just “Roman Emperor.

From about 1000AD to 1200AD, the H. R From about 1000AD to 1200AD, the H.R.E was at its strongest and the Emperors were powerful. Gradually, it became less and less unified. After about 1300AD, the H.R.E. became more and more of a figure head, and the local Dukes Counts and Kings ruled their own lands almost independently, and the title Holy Roman Emperor was mostly an honorary title held by one of them.

Heinrich III Back to the H.R.E. when it was at its strongest: Heinrich III was H. R. Emperor from 1039-1056AD, when the H.R.E. was strong and powerful. There was a close relationship between the H.R.E. and the Catholic Church, and the Emperor had a strong voice in who became Pope.

Heinrich IV Heinrich IV, who was H.R.Emperor from 1056AD until 1105AD. He came to power when he was just a baby, and until he was grown his mother ruled as regent for him.

Pope Gregory VII Pope Gregory VII became Pope in 1073 and was Pope until 1085. Before he became Pope, he was the Abbot (the head) of the great monastery called Cluny.  Cluny, which located in France, was the largest and most powerful monastery in Europe. Cluny, which was founded in 900 AD, was at the center of a movement to bring a revival of intense religious devotion in the Church.  It was stricter than other monasteries, and the monks were expected to be very intensely devout. When he became Pope, he was determined to bring about a revival of the church, and to eliminate Lay Investiture and Simony.

Heinrich IV & POPE GREGORY VII Heinrich IV is most famous for his controversy with the Church, over the issue of Lay Investiture Lay Investiture was the practice of a lay person, usually a ruler, choosing the Bishops and Archbishops in his land. It was called “Lay Investiture”, because to symbolize his role in choosing the Bishops & Archbishops, the ruler gave them their special ring and staff when they were “invested” into their holy office. Here they are, ring and staff. They symbolize that I picked you.

Pope Gregory VII excommunicated him. Pope Gregory VII was a very powerful Pope and very much a “purist”. He said “NO LAY INVESTITURE”. Heinrich IV said “I am going to keep on choosing Bishops & Archbishops.” Pope Gregory VII excommunicated him. Heinrich had to beg forgiveness (in the snow!) Heinrich was un-excommunicated and but went on doing what he had been doing. No, only I choose Bishops and Archbishops I want to choose my Archbishops!

You’re probably faking, but I forgive you! Pope Gregory VII excommunicated him. Heinrich had to beg forgiveness (in the snow!) Heinrich was un-excommunicated and but went on doing what he had been doing You’re probably faking, but I forgive you! Please forgive me!

Concordat of Worms The issue was “settled” at the Concordat or Worms, where there was a compromise: The Pope would give their ring and staff, symbolizing their spiritual authority The ruler would give them their lands, from which they derived much of their wealth.

More H.R. Emperors Frederick Barbarossa (1122-1190): Known for his role in fighting Frederick the II (1194-1250): Expressed doubts about teachings of the Church. Kept getting ex-communicated, and then un-excommunicated. Had many Muslim friends and spoke fluent Arabic Led the VI Crusade, in which he made a very interesting treaty with the Muslims, that lasted for a few years, before it was broken by both sides.

Pope Innocent III Most powerful of the Medieval Pope and Symbolizes the Church at its most powerful.

Pope Innocent III: 1198-1216. He was from 1198-1216. He used excommunication & interdict frequently: He put England under an interdict during the reign of King John because of a disagreement about who would be archbishop.   To lift the interdict, John had to become the Pope’s vassal pay the church an extra annual fee. He once put France under an interdict because Philip II tried to annul his marriage without the Pope’s permission. Philip II to take back a his wife. He excommunicated Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II numerous times. He believed that the Pope and the Church should have ultimate power in all matters, both spiritual and worldly. I said:

Pope Innocent III: 1198-1216.  He believed that the Pope and the Church should have ultimate power in all matters, both spiritual and worldly. This was before the controversy we learned about yesterday between Philip IV of France and Pope Boniface VIII. He expressed this strongly in a letter :

Pope Innocent III Papal Authority: Letter of Pope Innocent III to the prefect Acerbius and the nobles of Tuscany, 1198 Just as the founder of the universe established two great lights in the firmament of heaven, the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night, so too He set two great dignities in the firmament of the universal church..., the greater one to rule the day, that is, souls, and the lesser to rule the night, that is, bodies. These dignities are the papal authority and the royal power. Now just as the moon derives its light from the sun and is indeed lower than it in quantity and quality, in position and in power, so too the royal power derives the splendor of its dignity from the pontifical authority...

After about 1300AD After Pope Innocent III, the political power of the Pope gradually declined. It declined more sharply during the period after about 1300AD, following the controversy between King Philip IV of France and Pope Boniface VIII. This was because the next Pope, Pope Clement V moved the pope’s residency from Rome to Avignon. This was temporary, but it helped erode the power of the Pope.