How Powerful Was The Medieval Church?

During the Early Middle Ages, Christianity acquired a new, incisive, and decisive dimension, which would lead its political emanation, the church, to exercise immense power. If already in the late Roman era, with figures such as Constantine and Theodosius, the political potential of Christianity had been explored and it had progressively established itself until becoming the official religion of the empire, in the Early Middle Ages the role of the Christian religion became essential for the realities of central-western Europe, which were politically, socially, and culturally taking shape and defining themselves.

From the 8th to the 10th century, the kingdoms of central-western Europe suffered raids from a sort of new "barbarian invasions," carried out by various polytheistic populations from northern Europe and the steppes of central Asia. Under these pressures, both the entities that had benefited in their genesis from a direct contribution of Roman culture, such as the Romano-barbarian kingdoms of the continent, and those that had assimilated it mainly through the church, such as the kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy, continued to cultivate the Classical ideal of a civilized world, with which they obviously identified, as opposed to an uncultured north-eastern barbaricum."
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The Christian kingdoms of Early Medieval Europe found themselves in the uncomfortable position of being, if not from an ideal point of view, at least from a factual standpoint, largely a product of that same barbaricum which was now perceived as backward, hostile, and above all, different from themselves.
It was precisely the ancestral belonging to the same cultural milieu that now produced new hordes of plunderers, against which it was imperative to oppose oneself to protect one's stability, that led the European kingdoms to seek a criterion that would draw a clear line of demarcation, an unequivocal "us" and "them". If the difference in customs and habits between a subject of the Carolingian Empire and a Saxon from Westphalia, between an inhabitant of one of the Heptarchy kingdoms and a Dane, could be decidedly subtle, the clearly divergent elements could be recognized mainly, if not exclusively, in the sacred sphere. Belonging or not to the Christian universe became the new criterion that separated the civilized man from the uncultured barbarian. Just as in its expansion process the Roman world had required the realities that ended up being part of it to conform, adopting those social values that sanctioned entry into the assembly of civilized peoples, so too did the Christian kingdoms of Early Medieval Europe require this on a confessional basis, both from their own subjects and from those realities with which they wanted to build a prolonged and productive dialogue.
The representative collegial structure of Christianity, namely the Church, thus progressively acquired immense power, because as the medium and interpreter of the divine message, it was also the one who decided who, both individually and collectively, could be part of the Christian universe. One of the most iconic moments indicating how much the power of the church had established itself in the Early Middle Ages is the coronation of Charlemagne in 800 AD, during the Christmas Mass on December 25th. Taking advantage of a moment of weakness of the Byzantine Empire (effectively the Eastern Roman Empire, what remained of the previous Roman Empire), at the time ruled by a woman, Empress Irene, Charlemagne had himself crowned "Emperor of the Romans" by Pope Leo III.

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[TetsuShima]

Imagine what Empeor Nero would say if someone told him the leader of the small eastern cult he persecuted would end up having power over the emperor of europe himself 😅

[ssoliver]

Damn here so early the great schism hasn't happened yet

[horsesU]

Thank you, this was such a fantastic episode! Politics...nothing changed :)

[Zepol]

The Church was so powerful it divided the earth into two, one half for Spain and the other half for the Portogeese

[KingMordred]

Benedict IX: Becomes Pope at the age of 12
European rulers: "There's no way this can end well" 😢

[benetgamingchanel]

Honestly, it's sad that your history related videos do not get that much views in comparison to your drama or "political" related videos.

[scorpiodog]

All your videos are great. But this one is superb. What an insight into early medieval politics. I am gobsmacked.

[KingMordred]

It's pretty crazy how the Pope went from being the poor leader of a continuously endangered cult to the most important figure in the Western world. The last page of "Quo Vadis?" perfectly summarizes how christianity got the last laugh against the pagans who tried to destroy them:

"And so, Nero passed, as a whirlwind, as a storm, as a fire, as war or death passes, but the basilica of Peter rules till now, from the Vatican heights, the city and the World"

[cheynewillingham]

Reading Anthony Kaldelis' book "New Rome" going over the Byzantine history. It's humorous to read the 4th and 5th century church begging the Emperors to intervene in their disputes and to assign bishops here or there knowing that 5 centuries later the Investiture conflict would hit up more than one continents.

[Trecesolotienesdos]

They influenced kingdoms and gave kings literal backing for their invasions and acts. The fear of excommunication was a strong tool in this regard too.

[billnorris]

Great analysis. But the relationship between the Holy Roman Empire and the church is one of the great historical struggles. In no small part as the Holy Roman Emperor's lines kept dying out.

Great analysis in short form.

[elmaik]

3:13 Really cool on your part to display this picture of Alfonso X el Sabio y la Escuela de Traductores de Toledo (Alphonse X the Wise and the Translators' school from Toledo) since I was born there 🇪🇸🇪🇸 Great video btw Metatron!

[picklerick.n.]

God bless you and your work sir Metatron ❤❤❤

[jimmynaylor]

We can also see the power the power of the Church with the assassination of Thomas Beckett. Even though Beckett was pushed into becoming Archbishop of Canterbury by Henry II as he was a former Knight, Crusader and close confidant of the King, he was selected and ratified by the Pope to become the highest clergyman in England. It was his reluctance to side with the King to overturn the Churches power in England and ability to conduct their own courts that lead to the fateful "Won't someone rid me of this troublesome Priest" (although it is now contested as to the actual words) call from Henry II. The appearance of "bloody hands" of Henry in Thomas' death followed by the lack of military and financial success of the Crown, resulted in Henry making pilgrimage to Canterbury in a "hairy" shirt to pay penance then flagellate himself at Thomas' tomb. The image of the King of England, kneeling and scouring himself before a clergyman's effigy is a striking one. This PR event did invigorate Henrys subsequent campaigns which once more had the backing of the people, the Nobles and the Church especially Rome.

To note as well Henry II was a peculiarly lucky King. He married Eleanor of Aquitaine, an immensely powerful and shrewd woman. Thomas Beckett was his advisor and friend before the schism. He then had William Marshal, the Greatest Knight of his Age, as his loyal knight and bodyguard.

[zoetropo]

An event you overlooked is that in early February 1091 King William II led an English army to conquer Normandy. King Philip of France was so daunted that he asked Pope Urban II, a Frenchman, to negotiate on his behalf.
I reckon this is when Urban began thinking of diverting western Christian rulers from mutual warfare by uniting them in a common cause.

[hansmustermann]

I would Like also to know Something about the orthodox church at that time.

Btw: keep Up the good Work!

[ratatatancap]

I’m new here so I apologize because I’m positive people have already said this but I freaking love listening to you talk. It’s like History with Nandor the Relentless.

[ricardotezza]

Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux.
Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux.
Vade Retro Satana! Nunquam Suade Mihi Vana.
Sunt Mala Quae Libas.
Ipse Venena Bibas

[guillermorosario]

Metatron videos are getting better and better. I love watching his videos from seven years ago compared to now what an improvement on every subject very impressed

[teresamerkel]

An excellent history of the church in Europe during the Middle Ages thank you