The Power of the Church

Reading Guide

Causes 
1. Following Charlemagne's footsteps. 
2. Church reformers felt that bishops should not be under the power of any king. 
3. Tired to win the pope's forgiveness. 
4. Gregory and Henry's successors fought over lay investiture until 1122. 
5. Frederick did not focus building royal power, instead he invaded the rich cities of Italy.

Outcomes 
1. Otto was rewarded by being crowned emperor.
2. Gregory excommunicated Henry IV. German bishops sided with pope. 
3. Henry rushed home and punished nobles who rebelled against him. 
4. The church alone could grant a bishop his ring and staff, yet the emperor had the appointment of a bishop. 
5. Lombard league defeated Frederick and his feudal knights for the first time in history.

Terms & Names


clergy- the bishops and priests who the pope in rome had authority over

sacrament- religious ceremonies had led to achieving salvation

canon law- medieval christian, whether rich or poor, had to follow the rules of the church, a practice 

holy roman empire- the german-italian empire later became 

lay investiture- the practice of the appointment of church officials by kings and nobles 

Main Ideas


3. What were some of the matters covered by canon law?

marriage and religious practices.

4. How did Otto the Great make the crown stronger than the German nobles?
he followed the practices of charlemagne by gaining the support of church officials and formed a close alliance with the church.

5. Why did lay investiture cause a struggle between kings and popes?
they disagreed over who had the power to appoint church officials.