This is off the top of my head. The history of the papacy from Gregory
VII to the Avignon exile can be called the rise and decline of papal
power, and the rise of the national stae Gregory VII, also known as
Hildebrand, temporarily deposed the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry IV, by
excommunicting him. This meant that Henry's subjects did not need to
obey him, as he was no longer a valid Christian.At Canossa Henry was
forced to kneel barefoot in the snow for several days before he was
allowed to be forgiven. Henry turned the table later by nearly seizing
Gregory himself. Howver, a precedent was established. The power of the
papacy reached its pinnacle under Innocent III. During a dispute with
King John of England 1199-1216,, he put the kingdom under an
interdict...no masses could be said, no weddings performed, as well as
no baptisms or "extreme unction." None of the sacrements of the church
would be allowed under an interdict. John gave in and became a vassal
of the pope. The collapse of papal power in the nation state ocurred
under the imperious Boniface VIII. In a Bull called "Unam Sanctam,"
the pope declared that he was superior to all the rulers of the earth.
Philip 1V (The Fair)of France had enough. He seized the pope and
captured many members of the College of Cardinals. Boniface was so
roughly handled that he soon died. The cardinals, under threat by
Philip, elected a pope sympathtic to the French. The papacy itself
moved to Avignon, France and remained a French satellite. The
so-called "Babylonian Captivity of the Papacy" lasted for about 100
years, ending papal imperial power.
Bergerking |
