Pope Gregory Win In Battles Over Power Essay

During the Middle Ages the struggle of power between the monarchy and the church was an ongoing battle from the time of Charlemagne until the time of the Renaissance. I believe the Pope or high up church officials had more power over the king and in the eyes of the people. One reason for this is that Popes usually won when it came to battles over power. Pope Gregory VII was a prime example of this. Gregory did not hesitate to excommunicate King Henry IV after his attempt to take power away from the clergy. To have this horrible punishment revoked Henry proceeded to travel to Italy's northern mountains and stood barefoot in the snow for three days. After three days the Pope finally agreed to see Henry and had his excommunication revoked. King Henry's willingness to stand in frozen mountains proved he was giving the power back to the Pope, for only high up Church officials could excommunicate and excommunicate. However, some may say that even after the king had been removed from the church he still had power over his vassals. Giving him an army, money, and most importantly power. Sadly that is not is how feudal relationships work. After Henry’s removal he lost ALL power.
Pope Leo III was not born into a family of nobility. He worked his way up through the clergy and eventually became the Pope. Majority of people did not support him because he is not from a noble family. Leo felt threatened so he sent word to Charlemagne for help. Charlamagne of course sent help. He believed it was the job of the king and his army to protect the church. Two days after Leo took an oath of purgation in Rome, he crowned Charlemagne the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire. Only a Pope can grant a person the title of the King of the Holy Roman Empire. Leo worked his way up from a commoner showing that the church has the power to transform anyone into an influential