Taught by Professor Bradley Fish
Lesson 55: The Investiture Controversy
Written by KryssaLee Baze
(These are old essays from over a year ago that I forgot to publish)
The Investiture Controversy was a period of strife between the Pope and the Emperor or King. This strife was created because of a dispute about who would appoint the bishop in the Roman Catholic Church.
In 1076 A.D. Pope Gregory VII and Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV had a dispute about who had the authority to appoint the bishop. Each party thought that they had the right. Emperor Henry denounced the Pope, saying that he simply wasn't fit to be Pope. Pope Gregory excommunicated Henry, or declared that Henry couldn't be king.
Henry apologized, and the Pop accepted him back into the church, as well as stating that he could be king again, but he didn't give his throne back. In 1081 A.D. Henry invaded Rome to depose Gregory and replace him with a someone that would be fit to be pope. Rome frantically called on the Normans to save them. The Normans came, but they looted Rome instead!
Pope Gregory died not long after the raid. The Emperor and the Pope eventually came to an agreement. Unfortunately for the king, he no longer was able to choose bishops, but at the at the same time the bishop would be subject to his authority.
In 1162 in England another controversy arose. Henry II was king of England at the time. When the current Archbishop of Canterbury died, Henry II appointed a good friend of his, Thomas Becket. In England, the king had full authority to appoint bishops.
Soon Henry attempted to reclaim authority, and Thomas defended the church. This angered Henry. King Henry threatened Thomas, forcing the Archbishop to flee for his life. When Thomas eventually returned, he and Henry forgave each other over past issues.
Henry hinted to his knights that perhaps someone should kill the Archbishop. Four knights took him seriously, and killed Thomas while he doing his evening prayers. Henry was excommunicated until he made a confession. He was then allowed back to the throne. Thomas Becket was made a saint and a martyr. Although this incident was remembered, England didn't really change after this.
The Investiture Controversy left an imprint on the office of the Holy Roman Emperor, and what authority that he had over the church. Never again would the Emperor have complete authority over the Roman Catholic Church.
In 1076 A.D. Pope Gregory VII and Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV had a dispute about who had the authority to appoint the bishop. Each party thought that they had the right. Emperor Henry denounced the Pope, saying that he simply wasn't fit to be Pope. Pope Gregory excommunicated Henry, or declared that Henry couldn't be king.
Henry apologized, and the Pop accepted him back into the church, as well as stating that he could be king again, but he didn't give his throne back. In 1081 A.D. Henry invaded Rome to depose Gregory and replace him with a someone that would be fit to be pope. Rome frantically called on the Normans to save them. The Normans came, but they looted Rome instead!
Pope Gregory died not long after the raid. The Emperor and the Pope eventually came to an agreement. Unfortunately for the king, he no longer was able to choose bishops, but at the at the same time the bishop would be subject to his authority.
In 1162 in England another controversy arose. Henry II was king of England at the time. When the current Archbishop of Canterbury died, Henry II appointed a good friend of his, Thomas Becket. In England, the king had full authority to appoint bishops.
Soon Henry attempted to reclaim authority, and Thomas defended the church. This angered Henry. King Henry threatened Thomas, forcing the Archbishop to flee for his life. When Thomas eventually returned, he and Henry forgave each other over past issues.
Henry hinted to his knights that perhaps someone should kill the Archbishop. Four knights took him seriously, and killed Thomas while he doing his evening prayers. Henry was excommunicated until he made a confession. He was then allowed back to the throne. Thomas Becket was made a saint and a martyr. Although this incident was remembered, England didn't really change after this.
The Investiture Controversy left an imprint on the office of the Holy Roman Emperor, and what authority that he had over the church. Never again would the Emperor have complete authority over the Roman Catholic Church.
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