The History of the World Podcast, written and presented by Chris Hasler

Volume 4

The Medieval World

Episode 55 A Summary of Medieval Europe Part 2. During the previous episode we told the story of the

development of the medieval Paper Sea a much more secular role than any

simple Bishop of a Bishopric, we also told the story of the birth of the Holy

Roman Empire.

The Pope would crown the Holy Roman Emperor as per his will, and generally it would be the King of Germany who would receive

this honor. The Holy Roman Emperor would be expected to uphold the tradition of and

protect the Roman Catholic Church and would aid the the church center politically within the Byzantine Empire.

The Classical Romans were the promoters of Christianity, and the Byzantine saw themselves as

the descendants of the classical Romans and therefore the true

custodians of the Christian faith in what we refer to as the Eastern Orthodox Church. Although the Pope was an effective monarch of the Papal

states his military resources were limited and so by declaring one of the

strongest monarchs of Europe as the true king of the Romans

and eventually the Holy Roman Emperor, he would have a strong political ally in charge of an

effective military force.

When the King of Germany was crowned the Holy Roman Emperor,

it didn't come with a great deal of resources. The King of Germany would still have the same issues,

with the same neighbours, and his priority was to Germany, rather than doing anything in particular for the Pope.

What the Pope did have was the ability to represent God's will, and this would affect all

of the Roman Catholic kings of Europe who may have feared going against the Pope for fear of incurring the wrath of God.

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