Pope Defended by Franks (Recap.)

Military power of Constantinople in decline. Pope needing help against Lombards - found

support from developing Empire of Franks in AD 754 invaded Lombards’ territory.

Handed to the Pope “the States of the Church”- three Kingdoms of Italy.

Pope Leo crowned him Charlemagne Emperor of the ‘Holy Roman Empire’.

New political power of Popes symbolised thereafter by wearing of ‘Triple Crown’.

Recap – History of Roman Empire.•AD 330 Constantine moved Capital from Rome to Constantinople.

•Bishop of church remained in Rome.

•Succession of Emperors in West and East.

•AD 476 Western empire in Rome overcome by the Goth Theodoric - “deadly wound” inflicted in Imperial head.

•Gothic head – the 7th - ruled from Ravenna (not Rome) for 60 years overcome by Justinian - deadly wound healed - Imperial rule reasserted.

•Independent states established on territory of Western empire - by AD 520 five main divisions.

•AD 533 By Decree of Emperor Phocas, Bishop in Rome became “Universal Bishop”.

•AD 608 Bishop became “pope” and confirmed as “Supreme”.

Recap – History of Roman Empire.

Kingdom of the Franks

Recap – History – The Franks.

Franks - Germanic peoples led by Childerick well disciplined crossed the Rhine took Gaul.

Succeeded by CLOVIS who nearing defeat in battle prayed to wife’s Christian God – won battle became Catholic.

Franks conquered Gaul – inhabitants welcomed Catholics.

AD 511 Clovis succeeded by two sons Kingdom divided Pippin emerged - Kingdom united under son Charles.

Recap – History – Cont’d.

AD 732 Charles defeated Saracens – hailed as champion of Christendom.

Pippin son of Charles became King – sanctioned by the pope.

Rome came uder pressure from Lombards – 754 alliance sealed between Pippin and pope.

Pope crowned Pippin’s son Charlemagne Emperor in AD 800.

Charlemagne. Holy Roman Empire lasted for 1000 years. Of Charlemagne historian says - “the

peculiarity of his life work is that he created a state by extending the church... by making his power the representative of that religion which they held in common.”

Wars of Charlemagne were ‘crusades’ against the heathen - extended original territory.

Thought of himself as successor of Constantine - also as David, King of Israel.

Military Backing Charlemagne and successors provided military

power - sustained authority of Papacy. Replaced Emperor of Constantinople - too

weak to assist the West. Rome itself raised from previous humiliation to

city of imperial sovereignty. On death of Charlemagne Empire weakened

by division of lands among his children.

Military Backing. Charlemagne and successors provided

military power sustaining papacy. Replaced Emperor of Constantinople –

too weak to assist the West. Rome raised from previous humiliation

to city of imperial sovereignty. On death of Charlemagne Empire

weakened by division of lands among his children.

Germanic in Character. After Charlemagne French States became

separated from Empire. AD 936 Otto 1 having gained authority

over Dukes of Germany - crowned by Pope - Empire became Germanic.

Empire of Franks in Europe developed into Germanic Federation of Nations - whilst Pope represented ecclesiastical authority.

Later given title “The Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation.”

Holy Empire Expansion. By middle of eleventh century Empire

had expanded - spiritual authority and power of Pope extended into Western Europe.

“With a row of vassal kingdoms extending to the extremist eastward limits of Roman civilisation, the Holy Empire was fast becoming in a very real sense the mistress of the world” (Tout, The Empire and the Papacy, p.61).

Rival Claims of Pope & Emperor.

Middle Ages sees Europe under dual control. Rival claims of supremacy between Pope

and Emperor led to ongoing struggles. Regarded by most as - world-priest, head of

Holy Roman Church - world-king, ruler of Holy Roman Empire.

“the whole of European history is embodied in the formula which couples together the rule of Christ and Caesar” (Freeman, Historical Geography of Europe, p.575).

“The Holy Roman Empire.”

“… as Romanism it rests upon Rome as the origin and type of its universality… as Divine and eternal, its head is the Pope, to whom souls have been entrusted; as human and temporal, the Emperor, commissioned to rule men’s bodies…” J V Bryce.