The investiture controversy can also be called the lay investiture controversy. It was the most significant battle between nonspiritual and religious powers, which occurred in medieval Europe(Eichbauer p.34). The conflict began in the 11th century, and those who were involved were the Holy Roman Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII. The primary cause of the war was who was to control the appointments of the bishops (investiture). The controversy lasted for many years of bitterness and civil wars in Germany(Falkeid p.67).
In the year 1073, Gregory VII, who was a reformist monk, was chosen to serve as a pope. This was the time the conflict between the emperor and the elected pope began. The top official of the German clergy became against Gregory, who was chosen as a pope. King Henry professed that Gregory was no longer pope and the Romans were supposed to elect another pope(Falkeid p.67). When Gregory heard this information he took a step and terminated Henry IV, he announced that Henry IV was no longer an Emperor and pardoned Henry IV’s subjects from the oaths they had vowed to him. The termination of the king created a different impression on both Germany and Italy(Eichbauer 34). According to the report, thirty years before, Henry III had overthrown popes, which Henry IV tried to copy, but he never prospered since he never acquired enough support from the people. Emperor Henry IV was opposed to the ban vehemently because it would mean the loss of power as well as a considerable decrease in financial gains. The long-lasting order would be altered, which could not but upset the government. In my view, I would support the Pope’s position on this matter. Traditional religious dogmas renounce such an issue as bribery. Since this contrary practice was allowed under the Lay Investiture, the only plausible way of avoiding it was not letting emperors and kings appoint bishops(Falkeid p.67). I do not agree with Henry IV because his methods of the inauguration, as well as the approaches of his predecessors, were not righteous.
The Conflict Between Thomas Becket And King Henry II
Thomas Becket acted as archbishop of Canterbury and worked independently with many figures. During this time king henry II was in power, the king wanted to restore the royalty, culture and customs of his generation like King Henry I. Like any other leader, Henry II wanted to expand his administration over the church and reduce its function. This created conflict between the king and Thomas Becket, which revolved around the constitution of the Clarendon, a document that was condemned by the pope. The conflict caused Thomas to flee to England, where he sought refuge, specifically in France. There in the exile, he stayed for six years, during this period king henry II tried to restore peace. Becket returned to Canterbury. However, King Henry II defaulted on the vows that he made during the festival, and in reaction, this brought about a number of agreements between royal dignities and the clergymen. Some tycoons sought to look for the king‘s favour and proceeded to Canterbury Cathedral in order to challenge becket. Some officials claimed that they wanted to scare Becket and arrest him, Or rather to murder him. After the rise of the argument, the barons killed Becket on the step of the altar in Canterbury Cathedral to oppose him. The king voiced regret for the assassination, but he never took any accomplishment to capture the becket’ killers. My view I agree with the decision of King Henry II because religion is not separate from the affairs of the government. Instead, they should liaise, but a king should have more power than any other leader from the church.
Work Cited
Eichbauer, Melodie H. “The Bishop with Two Hats: Reconciling Episcopal and Military Obligations in Causa 23 of Gratian’s Decretum.” Civilians and Warfare in World
History, Routledge, 2017, pp. 130–150.
Falkeid, Unn. The Avignon Papacy Contested: An Intellectual History from Dante to Catherine of Siena. Vol. 21, Harvard University Press, 2017.
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