his201 - week 8 - Gregorian Reform

Modern scholars have moved away from the term Gregorian Reforms and now they use the term "the 11th and 12th century Church reform"

Louis the Pious succeeded Charlemagne and was confirmed as the head of the Frankish empire by the Pope. Continuing what Charlemagne had started, the relationship with the Pope. Pious divided his empire between his 3 sons, not a very intelligent thing to do, in hindsight. Louis the German took the eastern part, Charles the Bald took the west, and Lothair took the south and was crowned emperor. We see a period here where no emperors were crowned, Lothairs kingdom was far too small to even be taken seriously as an empire.

And so the power of the Roman empire moves her power to Germany - Otto annexed Lothair and was crowned empire by the Pope - however, unlike Charlemagne, Otto insisted imperial power over the Papacy - the empire picks the Pope and the Pope picks the emperor - here the Papacy changes quite a bit, it becomes essentially a hereditary title given to ancient Roman families, Tusculum, Cracenti. We see here a very strong decadence, they began to rule for their families not for Christendom. The local bishop has spiritual and temporal power and it was this temporal power which took over in this period.

In response to this, there was a large movement to the monasteries and ascetic lifestyle. "The Foundation of the Abbey of Cluny in 910" - Duke William of Aquitane claims no control or power over the monastery. The Abbey of Cluny served as a hinge for the reform of other monasteries.

Organisational structure

Prohibition on holding land by feudal service

it's execution of the liturgy as the main form of monastic work

Cluny created a large federated order, the Abbot of Cluny is the sole abbot of the order and many other houses of the period are under the direct control of the Abbot of Cluny so they are independent of their local temporal powers. And we see other monasteries either join Cluny or model themselves off it in some way.

The attitude of most rulers and churchmen is that God's authority rests in the Emperor, which is quite a byzantinian aspect.

These new reformers tried to take the power of the church away from these powerful Roman families - which reflects the Cluniac values.

Leo the 9th accomplished the first major reforms of the Church. Co-defying Canon law. Until the council of Trent it was still official that all bishops were elected by the Clergy of their diocese.

Three main issues:

Simony: Named after Simon Magus. To the reformers, Simony did not simply refer to the purchase of ordination, but any exchange of money or property involved with the gaining of the appointment, particularly of abbots or bishops.

Nicolaiatism: Clerical marriage/concubinage

Papal Authority: That the Popes were the rulers of the church and must be obeyed by all Christians. This was to expand as the reform movement continued.

To break simony one has to break clerical marriage - but that's not the sole point.

The organisation of the college of cardinals was changed. They were his advisers, administrators and electors. While this is happening we have the Norman invasions of Italy.

Because this era was bore the name of Gregory and not Leo testifies to the changes that Gregory made later on in his life.

Steven the 9th - after Victor - continued the anti-normal policies of Leo the 9th. After he died in a year Nicholas the 2nd was chosen to be Pope - under the strong advice of Hildebrand - the Papacy sanctioned the Normans. Because the imperial, military control needed to join up with another army. The council of Melphi, 1059, swore to be a vassal of the Church.