Pope vs. Emperor: An 11th Century Crisis

Gone Medieval

History Hit

History

4.6 • 2.2K Ratings

🗓️ 9 July 2024

⏱️ 40 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

When you think of drama in the medieval period the appointment of bishops would not naturally come to mind. But the Investiture Controversy is one of those political storms that eventually embroiled almost all of Europe's leaders.

Bishops were a big deal, carrying as much political heft as religious, so ceding ground on who picked them was as dangerous as you could get. This was a period when Popes had the power to make or break emperors.

Today Dr. Eleanor Janega is joined by Dr. Felicity Hill, lecturer in medieval history at St. Andrews University, to discuss exactly how the politics of religious appointments play out, and why that's such a threat to rulers.

Gone Medieval is presented by Dr. Eleanor Janega and edited by Ella Blaxill. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is sponsored by Penguin Audio. In his fabulous book, Unruly, David Mitchell
0:07.2	takes a hilarious look at the history of England's monarchy from the Kingdom's foundation after Rome went home to the end of
0:16.0	Gloriaa with Elizabeth the first's passing in 1603.
0:21.4	You might have heard David joined Dan Snow on his podcast to talk about the book.
0:26.4	If you haven't, it's worth looking the episode out, not least as a taster of what you can
0:31.1	expect from the audiobook, which is available right now.
0:35.2	David is a passionate historian, an expert who firmly lashes the humour to the history
0:41.5	and he brings his signature dry wit to the audiobook which he
0:45.5	narrates himself. Who was King Arthur or rather just was King Arthur? Would David be in the home or away stands at the Battle of Hastings?
0:58.0	Did Richard III, really? Mm, never mind. The audiobook of Unruly by David Mitchell is available now from
1:06.2	Audible or with Spotify premium. Now, about that Richard the third chapter.
1:19.0	I'm Dr. Eleanor Yanega. And today on Gone Medieval from History Hit,
1:22.0	we are talking all about the investiture controversy.
1:25.4	One of my favorite aspects of the Papal Imperial rivalry.
1:29.3	When you think of drama in the medieval period, I'm not sure that the appointment of bishops would naturally come to mind, unless, of course you're a professional nerd like me.
1:39.0	But the investor to your controversy, or contest, or crisis crisis is one of those political storms
1:46.1	that eventually embroiled almost all of Europe's leaders. It was this debate
1:50.5	between popes and emperors initially but eventually between the popes and all royalty,
1:56.1	which led to an emperor waiting barefoot in the snow at Kanoza for the forgiveness of a pope.
2:01.9	Almost 100 years later, it was the same issue that would play into
2:06.3	the death of Thomas Beckett. Bishops were a big deal, and seating ground on who
2:12.4	picked them was as political and dangerous as you could get.
	...

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