The Middle Ages

1. The Middle Ages Part Five The Clash over Germany and Italy

2. Otto I • After Charlemagne’s death – chaos again in Italy. • Italy split between Byzantines, Pope (Papal States) and Muslims (Sicily) • Otto I – elected in Germany • Strong and forceful ruler. • Desired to take over Italy • Pope John XII asks for his help against Roman nobles. • Pope rewards Otto with the title, “Emperor of the Romans” because Otto had helped him. • Otto I now controlled all of Germany and northern Italy (HRE) – less territory than Charlemagne, but still powerful in Europe.

3. Henry III • Ruled between 1046-1056 • Felt that the government is more powerful and important than the church. • Strong and powerful leader. • Three different men claimed to be the pope. • Henry’s power enabled him to remove all three who claimed the papacy and install a German in their place. • Henry III also was able to name the next three popes.

4. Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII • Henry IV was only 5 years old when he became emperor. • Nobles and the Church saw his youth as an opportunity to restore their power. • At 15, Henry attempted to strengthen the power of the empire over the Church by naming his own Bishops. This practice is known as “lay investiture”. • Gregory VII felt that the Church had power over all people – including kings. He claimed that the Catholic Church was the supreme power on earth. • Gregory excommunicates Henry and urges his subjects to overthrow him and elect another emperor.

5. Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII • Henry eventually asked forgiveness of the pope. • He traveled to Carossa to meet with the pope. • Gregory VII made him wait 3 days to be allowed to see the pope. • Henry begs forgiveness of the pope, leading to the pope lifting his excommunication. • Concordat of Worms • Struggle over lay investiture continues. • Concordat of Worms was an agreement to settle this struggle. • Only popes could name bishops. • Emperor could appoint bishops to fiefs. • Thus – the Concordat of Worms limited imperial power over the German Church.

6. Frederick Barbarossa • Also known as Frederick I (1152-1190) • Wanted to gain control of Italy. • Bologna, Padua, Verona and Milan had become independent of the emperor. • Destroyed Milan, but the other cities continued to resist. • They formed the Lombard League and raised an army to fight off Frederick I. • They defeated Frederick in 1176 – but made an agreement that the emperor would be the ruler, but the cities could govern themselves.

7. Pope Innocent III • Pope from 1198 to 1216 • Strongest of all the medieval popes. • Believed in the supreme power of the pope over all people – including kings and emperors – considered them servants of the Church. • Intervened in disputes throughout Europe and freely used his power of excommunication and interdiction to settle conflict and maintain control over Europe. • Placed an interdict over all of England and forced King John to become his vassal and pay an annual tithe to Rome. • Placed an interdict over France and forced King Philip to take his wife back (divorced) and re-name her queen. • Overthrew 2 German kings and replaced them with his own choice. • Never able to achieve unity between Germany and Italy.