1. Medieval Christian Europe (330–1450)
Lesson 5 The Feudal Monarchs and the Church

2. Medieval Christian Europe (330–1450)
Lesson 5 The Feudal Monarchs and the Church
Learning Objectives
Learn how monarchs gained power over nobles and the Christian Church, and how English kings strengthened their power.
Describe how traditions of government evolved under King John and later English monarchs.
Explain how strong monarchs unified France.
Describe the formation of the Holy Roman Empire and how some emperors struggled with the papacy to control specific religious and secular issues.
Analyze how the Church reached the height of its power under Pope Innocent III.

3. Medieval Christian Europe (330–1450)
Lesson 5 The Feudal Monarchs and the Church
Key Terms
William the Conqueror,
common law,
King John
Magna Carta,
due process of law,
habeas corpus,
Parliament,
Louis IX,
Holy Roman Empire,
Gregory VII,
Henry IV.
lay investiture.
Frederick Barbarossa,
Pope Innocent III,

4. Feudal Monarchs Begin to Centralize Power
During the early Middle Ages, hundreds of feudal nobles ruled over territories of varying size. Feudal nobles had their own courts and armies and collected their own taxes. Most feudal lords acknowledged a king or other overlord, but royal rulers had little power. The Church, too, was a center of power with its own laws, system of justice, and methods of raising money. Both nobles and the Church could at times have as much power as a monarch.

5. Feudal Monarchs Begin to Centralize Power
This image from an 11th-century Bible shows a king receiving fealty from his nobles.

6. English Kings Expand Their Power
During the early Middle Ages, Angles, Saxons, and Vikings invaded and settled in England. Although feudalism emerged in England, as it did elsewhere in Europe, English monarchs generally kept their kingdoms united.

7. English Kings Expand Their Power
The Norman Conquest of England
William Exerts Firm Control
Extending Royal Power
The Early Jury System
A Tragic Conflict with the Church

8. English Kings Expand Their Power
William of Normandy, called the Conqueror, ended Anglo-Saxon rule in England.

9. Developing New Traditions of Government
Later English rulers repeatedly clashed with nobles and the Church as they tried to raise taxes or to impose royal authority over traditional feudal rights. Out of those struggles evolved traditions of government that would have great influence on the modern world.

10. Developing New Traditions of Government
King John Battles Powerful Enemies
The Magna Carta
Parliament Develops

11. Developing New Traditions of Government
In this illustration from the 1800s, King John lays a token of his submission before the feet of Pope Innocent III's representative, conceding defeat.

12. Growth of the French Monarchy
Unlike William the Conqueror in England, monarchs in France did not rule over a unified kingdom. The successors to Charlemagne had little power over a patchwork of French territories ruled by powerful feudal lords.

13. Growth of the French Monarchy
France Under the Capetians
Philip Augustus Increases Power and Prosperity
Louis IX: A Model Monarch
Conflicts with the Pope
The King Sets Up the Estates General

14. Growth of the French Monarchy
Capetian kings gradually extended royal control over more than half of France.Analyze Maps What overall trend in French royal power does the map show? Where and by whom might that power be challenged after 1328? Explain your answer.

15. Growth of the French Monarchy
King Phillip II of France meets with townspeople outside of a castle town.

16. The Holy Roman Empire
In the early Middle Ages, Charlemagne had brought much of what is today the nation of Germany under his rule. After his death, these German lands dissolved into a patchwork of separate states ruled by counts and dukes. In time, the dukes of Saxony began to extend their power over neighboring German lands.

17. The Holy Roman Empire Otto I Becomes Emperor
German Emperors Face a Challenge
The Conflict with the Church Begins

18. The Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a vast kingdom that bordered several important bodies of water. This aided in trade as well as defense.Analyze Maps Locate: (a) the North Sea, (b) the Adriatic Sea, (c) the Mediterranean Sea

19. The Holy Roman Empire
Otto I is crowned emperor over a vast area of Europe that will later be known as the Holy Roman Empire.

20. A Pope and an Emperor Feud
Under the reforming pope Gregory VII, the conflict between emperors burst into flames. Gregory was one of the greatest medieval popes. He was also one of the most controversial. Pope Gregory ruled at the same time as the German emperor Henry IV. These two strong-willed rulers clashed over competing claims to power.

21. A Pope and an Emperor Feud
Gregory Undertakes Reforms
The Emperor Responds
Henry Repents
The Concordat of Worms

22. A Pope and an Emperor Feud
A medieval drawing shows Henry driving Gregory from Rome (top). Other scenes include Gregory excommunicating Henry (bottom left) and Gregory on his deathbed (bottom right).

23. The Battle for Italy
The struggle between popes and emperors moved from the battle over investiture to a battle for Italy. During the 1100s and 1200s, ambitious German emperors sought to control Italy. As they headed south across the Alps, they came into conflict not only with the pope but also with the wealthy cities of northern Italy.

24. The Battle for Italy German Emperors In Italy Frederick II
Effects of the Struggle

25. The Battle for Italy
Frederick Barbarossa, or Frederick Red-Beard, leads soldiers in battle against the Seljuk Turks.

26. The Battle for Italy
Frederick II spent much of his rule fighting for territory around the Kingdom of Sicily.Analyze Maps Why do you think that the barons and nobility of areas such as Saxony and Bavaria were successful in breaking into independent states?

27. Church Power Reaches Its Peak
In the 1200s, the Roman Catholic Church reached the height of its political power. Reforming popes like Gregory VII claimed the right to depose kings and emperors. Gregory’s successors greatly expanded papal power. In addition, a more powerful Church was able to spread its influence to new areas, increasing religious unity in Europe.

28. Church Power Reaches Its Peak
Popes Assert Their Power
Papal Power Begins to Decline

29. Church Power Reaches Its Peak
Under Pope Innocent III, the Church reached a level of power it would never again attain. Innocent saw himself as second only to God, but above all other men.

30. Quiz: Feudal Monarchs Begin to Centralize Power
How did both townspeople and monarchs benefit from their mutual support?
A. Townspeople imposed peace and unity, while monarchs were able to save money by decreasing the size of their armies.
B. Townspeople achieved better business conditions, while monarchs widened their support among nobles.
C. Townspeople organized their own court systems, while monarchs widened their support in towns.
D. Townspeople achieved better business conditions, while monarchs widened their support in towns.

31. Quiz: English Kings Expand Their Power
How did Henry II's belief that his royal courts had the right to try clergymen accused of crimes affect his relationship with the Church?
A. It caused conflict because both Church and monarch claimed the same powers.
B. It relaxed tensions because the Church was unwilling to try clergymen.
C. It made them stronger allies because they could work together to ensure justice.
D. It increased tensions because Henry successfully outlawed Church courts in England.

32. Quiz: Developing New Traditions of Government
How did the Magna Carta affect the power of the English king?
A. It had no effect on the king's power.
B. It closely linked the king's power to the power of the nobles.
C. It weakened the king's power.
D. It strengthened the king's power.

33. Quiz: Growth of the French Monarchy
Which actions did French kings take to increase royal power?
A. opposed the Church, eliminated bureaucracy, extended royal lands
B. won support of the Church, built bureaucracy, antagonized the middle class
C. formed the Estates General, eliminated bureaucracy, granted town charters
D. granted town charters, introduced national tax, extended royal lands

34. Quiz: The Holy Roman Empire
Who was the real ruler of the Holy Roman Empire?
A. the pope
B. the people in each area
C. the emperor's vassals
D. the emperor

35. Quiz: A Pope and an Emperor Feud
Which is the best definition of lay investiture?
A. the right of the monarch to install Church bishops
B. the right of the Church to choose royal advisors
C. the right of the pope to remove Church bishops
D. the right of bishops to determine the distribution of fiefs

36. Quiz: The Battle for Italy
What were two effects of the Holy Roman emperors' attempts to subdue Italy?
A. Italian nobles grew more independent; Germany remained in disarray
B. German nobles grew more independent; Italy remained in disarray
C. the Holy Roman Empire disappeared; Italian cities gained economic power
D. Frederick Barbarossa built an empire from the Baltic to the Adriatic; Spain took control in Italy

37. Quiz: Church Power Reaches Its Peak
Which actions did Innocent II take to increase the power of the Church?
A. changed the way that Church officials were chosen, began to tax clergy
B. eliminated unjust Church courts, launched a crusade against the Albigensians
C. began to tax clergy, extended the Papal States
D. launched a crusade against the Albigensians, extended the Papal States