His201 - Lect2 -

His201 - Lecture 6 - Gregory the Great (c.540-604)

Benedictine background - establishing the authority of the papacy and growing influence of the Church

We have to understand 6th century Italian politics in its dealings with other powers in Europe, especially the Eastern Roman empire (which is, up until Gregory, the greatest ally to the Bishop of Rome is the Eastern Roman emperor).

in the late 5th century Rome was a wreck - the imperium was on the brink - the western Roman empire died with the imperial court in Ravenna - The imperial court and senate came under control of a military force (when the western roman emperor fell) Zeno (Eastern Roman Emperor) convinced the ostragothic tribe (theodoric) to invade Italy and he set up his court in Ravenna, and maintained and continued many of the political and cultural traditions that had existed. This included the practice of orthodox beliefs and the sway of the senate (these are two things that Theodoric did not want to corrupt in any way - even though he was arian) in essence Theodorics reign represents the continuity of culture and politics in Italy. Theodoric stabilised things, with the full approval, support and encouragement of Zeno.

Zeno's motives were to get his foot into the Italian politics and force himself back into the homeland. In fact, Theodoric was considered a viceroy for Zeno. These motives were fairly clear to everyone. Now Zeno's ploy also had another benefit: That was to keep the ostrogoths from invading the Eastern Roman Empire. Zeno had some geo-political motivation in his alliance with Theodoric - based largely on Roman identity and imperial power- hangovers from the ancient Roman empire in its entirety.

Things were going smoothly until Theodoric died- he left no clear successor - his son was too young and his wife was seen as unrealiable. Meanwhile in Constantinople (527) Zeno was succeeded by Justinian I (far less diplomatic and far more aggressive when it came to controlling Italy) Once he mustered up the resources Justinian I muscled into Italy in 535. What followed was a long and destructive war, recorded by Procopius, Secret History. He had succeeded in conquering Italy, some of North Africa and Southern Spain, also gained control of the islands Corsica, Sicily (important trading ports and mineral deposits). For much of Justinian's life the Byzantine presence in Italy declined.

The imperial forces could not hold the peninsula - the italian peninsula was then divided up. Eastern Roman forces (imperial forces) still maintained control of central Rome and the trading islands. The lombards did not establish a typical germanic kingdom. they did have a king. Rome was under Papal control, responding to the Byzantine emperor.

So it is in this geo-political environment that Gregory the Great grew up in.

Gregory was born into a wealthy aristocratic family, became a praetor in the Senate, served in the judiciary system. For this reason his later papacy has seen to reflect the typical rigor of Roman education. Religion was not far removed from the sphere of his life, he had gone as far as he wanted to go in politics and felt that he wanted to serve in the administration of the Church. That's not to say that his motivation was purely political, it can't have been, because instead of becoming a bishop straight away, he became a monk. He founded a monastery, appointed an Abbot, and chose to reside in the humbler ranks with his fellow monks. He was dedicated to the quiet life of a monk, but he couldn't escape his reputation as a patrician and an administrator. He was soon called up for his duties, as an ambassador, a representative of the Pope in the imperial court of Constantinople. When he returned from Rome after those duties he became the papal secretariat. Then the Pope died, and the reluctant Gregory was elected Pope. At least that's the way it's put, on the other hand, it's not rare to here these sought of stories about the humble acceptance of a kingdom, or a domain. In any case he accepted this position in 590. At this point the Church was at a bit of a cross-roads. In 589 a plague swept through Rome and the city itself was low on population. Gregory gained the admiration and respect of his parishners in Rome because of his emphasis on the monastic life. He recruited monastic values and practices to the Papacy. He re-asserted the authory of the Pope over all of Christendom. He re-defined the role of the Papacy, with practical authority over the Church. Gregory dispensed advice and instruction on political affairs and religious affairs. He communicated with Gaulish bishops and Merovingian kings. He sponsored missionary expeditions.

And it was also devotional, that's the other face, that's the other arm of it if you like, through the establishment of monastic life. Now as we continue next week we'll see how this institution blended itself with the other institution we have been following thus far, the frankish kingdom to the north. That's something that we are going to continue to explore next week, the contact between the Frankish kingdom and the Church.