City Of God: Charlemagne Vs. Augustine

With the prompt relating to how either Charlemagne or Augustine would align in such a conflict, it’s important to consider the values both parties, in this case, bring to the table. Both of them, Henry IV and Gregory VII, assume ordination by God as distinct justification for their singular correctness. Henry, in general, believes that emperors, because of their distinct position and ordination, should have full jurisdiction in terms of the investment of Bishops. Gregory’s counter to this is, essentially, that he is the highest religious figure and, thus, is “the most ordained;” he believes, therefore, that his word should have greatest potency due to it being, in technicality, closer to God. It is difficult to determine exactly which side Augustine would find most favor with it; I write it in such a manner as I believe Augustine would have, in many ways, disagreed with the philosophies of both. In his book City of God, he states, “Accordingly, two cities have been formed by two loves: the earthly by the love of self, even to the contempt of God; the heavenly by the love of God, even to the contempt of self. The former, in a word, glories in itself, the latter in the Lord. For the one seeks glory from men; but the greatest glory of the other is God, the witness of conscience. The one lifts up its head in its own glory; the other
As it is known according to his Great Capitulary, Charlemagne, in his time, played a large role in legislating religious functions under his rule: much of the legislation under his Capitulary dealt with the performance of monastic staff, clergymen and such. Due to his previous role as emperor and the authority over the Church that came in suit, it’s conceivable that Charlemagne would find at least slight discomfort in seeing the Papacy have such all-encompassing power. For this reason, I believe it’s likely that Charlemagne would have sided with Henry