Transcript Revelation Seminar Part C

Pope Defended by Franks
(Recap.)
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Military power of Constantinople in decline.
Pope needing help against Lombards - found
support from developing Empire of Franks in AD
754 invaded Lombards’ territory.
Handed to the Pope “the States of the Church”three Kingdoms of Italy.
Pope Leo crowned him Charlemagne Emperor of
the ‘Holy Roman Empire’.
New political power of Popes symbolised
thereafter by wearing of ‘Triple Crown’.
Recap – History of Roman Empire.
•AD 330 Constantine moved Capital from
Rome to Constantinople.
•Bishop of church remained in Rome.
•Succession of Emperors in West and East.
•AD 476 Western empire in Rome overcome
by the Goth Theodoric - “deadly wound”
inflicted in Imperial head.
•Gothic head – the 7th - ruled from Ravenna
(not Rome) for 60 years overcome by
Justinian - deadly wound healed - Imperial
rule reasserted.
Recap – History of Roman Empire.
•Independent states established on
territory of Western empire - by AD 520
five main divisions.
•AD 533 By Decree of Emperor Phocas,
Bishop in Rome became “Universal
Bishop”.
•AD 608 Bishop became “pope” and
confirmed as “Supreme”.
Kingdom of the Franks
Recap – History – The Franks.
Franks - Germanic peoples led by Childerick
well disciplined crossed the Rhine took Gaul.
Succeeded by CLOVIS who nearing defeat in
battle prayed to wife’s Christian God – won
battle became Catholic.
Franks conquered Gaul – inhabitants
welcomed Catholics.
AD 511 Clovis succeeded by two sons
Kingdom divided Pippin emerged - Kingdom
united under son Charles.
Recap – History – Cont’d.
AD 732 Charles defeated Saracens –
hailed as champion of Christendom.
Pippin son of Charles became King –
sanctioned by the pope.
Rome came uder pressure from
Lombards – 754 alliance sealed
between Pippin and pope.
Pope crowned Pippin’s son
Charlemagne Emperor in AD 800.
Charlemagne.
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Holy Roman Empire lasted for 1000 years.
Of Charlemagne historian says - “the
peculiarity of his life work is that he created a
state by extending the church... by making his
power the representative of that religion which
they held in common.”
Wars of Charlemagne were ‘crusades’ against
the heathen - extended original territory.
Thought of himself as successor of
Constantine - also as David, King of Israel.
Military Backing
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Charlemagne and successors provided military
power - sustained authority of Papacy.
Replaced Emperor of Constantinople - too weak
to assist the West.
Rome itself raised from previous humiliation to
city of imperial sovereignty.
On death of Charlemagne Empire weakened by
division of lands among his children.
Military Backing.
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Charlemagne and successors provided
military power sustaining papacy.
Replaced Emperor of Constantinople – too
weak to assist the West.
Rome raised from previous humiliation to
city of imperial sovereignty.
On death of Charlemagne Empire
weakened by division of lands among his
children.
Germanic in Character.
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After Charlemagne French States became
separated from Empire.
AD 936 Otto 1 having gained authority over
Dukes of Germany - crowned by Pope Empire became Germanic.
Empire of Franks in Europe developed into
Germanic Federation of Nations - whilst Pope
represented ecclesiastical authority.
Later given title “The Holy Roman Empire
of the German Nation.”
Holy Empire Expansion.
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By middle of eleventh century Empire had
expanded - spiritual authority and power of
Pope extended into Western Europe.
“With a row of vassal kingdoms extending
to the extremist eastward limits of Roman
civilisation, the Holy Empire was fast
becoming in a very real sense the mistress
of the world” (Tout, The Empire and the
Papacy, p.61).
Rival Claims of Pope &
Emperor.
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Middle Ages sees Europe under dual control.
Rival claims of supremacy between Pope and
Emperor led to ongoing struggles.
Regarded by most as - world-priest, head of
Holy Roman Church - world-king, ruler of Holy
Roman Empire.
“the whole of European history is embodied in
the formula which couples together the rule
of Christ and Caesar” (Freeman, Historical
Geography of Europe, p.575).
“The Holy Roman Empire.”
“… as Romanism it rests upon Rome as
the origin and type of its universality…
as Divine and eternal, its head is the
Pope, to whom souls have been
entrusted; as human and temporal, the
Emperor, commissioned to rule men’s
bodies…” J V Bryce.