Pope+Gregory+VII

 Hildebrand (1020/25-1085), born in Soana, Tuscanny, was one of the most controversial popes in the church’s history. His pontificate as Gregory VII lasted from 1073 till his death in 1085. Gregory VII’s prominence is largely attributed to achievements during his papal term.[1] The 11th Century saw the church implement radical reforms, aimed to revive a true, pristine and chaste church. Gregory VII was instrumental in progressing key papal reforms, and shaping the religious culture of the church, the state and wider society of Medieval Europe.

**Papal Supremacy**

Central to Gregory VII’s reforms was establishing papal supremacy in religious affairs. Rome was decreed the central, holy location to deal with church matters. The pope had supreme authority as head of the church and as God’s representative on earth. The pope could not be judged, nor could the church make any errors. Monarchs and other church officials answered to the papacy, and relinquished previous positions of authority.[2] The Dictatus Papae, entered into Gregory VII’s register in 1075, outlined 27 principals that affirmed this reform.[3] These reforms were based on the premise that centralised authority would lift the church’s authority. They changed the entire social and political structure of religion in Europe.

**Lay Investiture**

In 1073, Gregory VII introduced a decree that prohibited lay investiture. Under this reform the pope could ordain or depose bishops and other church officials. The reform is highlighted in the //Dictatus Papae// which claims that the pope can “…depose or reinstate bishops,”.[4] It was believed that the papacy deserved full authority over this religious matter.[5] This changed traditional election practices previously involving other members of the church and/or the monarchy.

**Nicolaitism**

Gregory VII also furthered reforms regarding the prohibition of nicolaitism, in response to the reputation of immoral sexual activity amongst the clergy. Clergy men were previously allowed to marry and many also had concubines. Gregory VII did not introduce the reforms, however, he fought heavily for them. He published an encyclical outlining his opposition, and preached the issue on many occasions. He aroused wide-spread support for clerical celibacy across Christendom, thus influencing its later implementation. These laws affirmed the church’s definition of marriage and the expected conduct of clergymen.[6]

**Simony**

Gregory VII continued reforms against the corrupt act of simony. Medieval Lecturer Kathleen G. Cushing argues that, “…the practise… was inevitable in a society where appointment to clerical or monastery positions gave men control over vast wealth and estates.”[7] Gregory VII harshly condemned and prohibited simony on any level. It was accused of allowing men of low-birth or merit into undeserving positions. Gregory VII reformed this culture meit based promotions.[8] He was influenced by Against the Simoniacs by Humbert of Silva-Candida, that denied the legitimacy of those practising simony.[9] Gregory VII was one of the only popes to actively attempt to eradicate this practise. He greatly furthered anti-simony sentiments in Christendom.[10]

**The Investiture Controversy**

Gregory VII’s reforms had great effect on Europe’s monarchs, especially King Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor, who opposed reforms against lay investiture. This conflict surrounded the question of who deserved greater spiritual authority. Both the pope and the emperor used religious references to support their claims, including their holy ordinations.[11]In one of his letters from 1076, King Henry IV denounced Gregory VII as a dictator and a “false pope” working for personal gain.[12] Gregory VII excommunicated Henry IV for his opposition on two occasions, in 1076 and 1080, for defying the authority of the church. The Investiture Controversy initiated future conflicts between successive popes and the state.[13] A compromise was met over 50 years later, with the Concordat of Worms, in 1122.[14] Gregory VII’s conflict with King Henry IV demonstrate the social and political changes resulting from his reforms.

**Legacy**

By the end of his papacy and his life Gregory VII had a mixed reputation. Some applauded his influence on the church’s reforms, others opposed them, and some believed he worked only for personal gain. Despite these opposing responses, Gregory VII remains a prominent figure of Medieval Europe, for progressing key reforms that shaped the practise and public image of the church. Some of his reforms are still practised in the Catholic Church today.

**References**

[1]Thomas Oestereich, "Pope St. Gregory VII," Catholic Encyclipedia, []; W.T.H Jackson, ed., //The Correspondence of Pope Gregory: Selected Letters from the Registrum,// trans. Ephraim Emerton (New York: Norton and Company, 1969), ix-xx <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">[2]Oestereich, Pope St. Gregory VII; Kathleen G Cushing, //Reform and the Papacy in the Eleventh Century: Spirituality and Social Change// (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2005). <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">[3]Gregory VII, "Gregory VII: Dictatus Papae 1090" trans., Ernest F. Henderson, //Medieval Sourcebook//, []; <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">[4] Gregory VII, //Dictatus Papae// <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">[5]William Chester. Jordan, //Europe in the High Middle Ages// (London: Penguin, 2002), 1-2; Gregory VII, "Lay Investitures Forbidden 1080," trans., Ernest F. Henderson, //Medieval Sourcebook//, http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/source/g7-reform2.html <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">[6] Cushing, //Reform and the Papacy,// 120-125 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">[7] Ibid., 95-96 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">[8]Oestereich, //Pope St. Gregory VII;// Cushing, //Reform and the Papacy,// 95-100. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">[9] Humbert, "From III Books Against Simony," in //Gregory VII: Church Reformer or World Monarch//, ed. Brian Tierney, Donald Kagan, and L. Pearce Williams (New York: Random House, n.d.), 14-15. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">[10]Cushing, //Reform and the Papacy,//117-20; Brian Tierney, Kagan, Donald and Williams L. Pearce//,// ed., //Gregory VII: Church Reformer or World Monarch?//(New York: Random House, 1967), 14-16. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">[11]Tierney, Kagan and Williams,//Gregory VII: Reformer or Monarch?//: 25, 27-30; Zachary N. Brooke, "Lay Investiture and its Relation to the Conflict of Empire and Papacy," in //The Gregorian Reform: Reformation, Revolution, Reaction?//, ed. Schafer Williams (Boston: D.C. Heath and Company, 1964), 25-35. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">[12]Henry IV, Medieval Sourcebook, "Henry IV: Letter to Gregory VII, Jan 24 1076," trans. Ernest F. Henderson, http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/henry4-to-g7a.asp. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">[13] Gregory VII, “Excommunication of Henry IV,” in //The Correspondence of Pope Gregory VII: Selected Letters from the Registrum,// trans. and ed. Ephraim Emerton, 90-91 (New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 1969); Gregory VII, “Excommunication of King Henry IV 1080,” in //The Correspondence of Pope Gregory VII: Selected Letters from the Registrum,// trans. and ed. Ephraim Emerton, 149-156 (New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 1969). <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">[14] Henry V and Calixtus II, Medieval Sourcebook, “The Concordat of Worms 1122”, trans. Ernest F. Henderson, <span class="wiki_link_ext">http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/worms1.html

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;"><span class="wiki_link_ext">**Bibliography**

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Brian Tierney, Kagan, Donald and Williams L. Pearce//,// eds. //Gregory VII: Church Reformer or World Monarch?// New York: Random House, 1967.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Brooke, Zachary N. "Lay Investiture and its Relation to the Conflict of Empire and Papacy." In //The Gregorian Reform: Reformation, Revolution, Reaction?// Edited by Schafer Williams 23-25. Boston: D.C. Heath and Company, 1964.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Cushing, Kathleen G. //Reform and the Papacy in the Eleventh Century: Spirituality and Social Change//. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2005.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Gregory VII. “Excommunication of Henry IV.” In //The Correspondence of Pope Gregory VII: Selected Letters from the Registrum.// Translated and Edited by Ephraim Emerton, 90- 91. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 1969.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">---. “Excommunication of King Henry IV 1080.” In //The Correspondence of Pope Gregory VII: Selected Letters from the Registrum,// Translated and Edited by Ephraim Emerton, 149-156. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 1969.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">---. Medieval Sourcebook. "Gregory VII: First Deposition and Banning of Henry IV (Feb, 22, 1076)." Translated by Ernest F. Henderson. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/g7-ban1.asp (Accessed August 11, 2011).

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">---. Medieval Sourcebook. "Lay Investitures Forbidden 1080." Translated by Ernest F. Henderson. [] (Accessed August 11, 2011)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">---. Medieval Sourcebook. “Gregory VII: Dictatus Papae 1090.” Translated by Ernest F. Henderson.[] (Accessed August 11, 2011)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Henry IV. Medieval Sourcebook. "Henry IV: Letter to Gregory VII, Jan 24 1076." Translated by Ernest F. Henderson. []. (Accessed August 11, 2011)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Henry V and Calixtus II**.** Medieval Sourcebook. **“**The Concordat of Worms 1122”. Translated by Ernest F. Henderson. [] (Accessed August 11, 2011)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Humbert. "From III Books Against Simony." In //Gregory VII: Church Reformer or World Monarch//, edited by Brian Tierney, Donald Kagan, and L. Pearce Williams, 14-15. New York: Random House, n.d.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Jackson, W.T.H, ed. //The Correspondence of Pope Gregory: Selected Letters from the Registrum.// Translated by Ephraim Emerton. New York: Norton and Company, 1969.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Jordan, William Chester. //Europe in the High Middle Ages//. London: Penguin, 2002.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Oestereich, Thomas. Catholic Encyclipedia. "Pope St. Gregory VII”. []. (Accessed August 11, 2011)