Notes on "A History of Political Theory" -- Episode 12

For episode 11 see here

The Theory of the Universal Community

XII. The Investiture Controversy*

  A. Thinking on political and social ideas preserved from antiquity reemerged

       in the 11th Century

  B. Main issue was contest between Emperor and Pope, a jurisdictional dispute 

       between two principles of authority for a single Christian society 

  C. The Church's claim based on the idea of Christian society as the foundation

       underpinning a Christian state

       1. Church strengthened by Pseudo Isidorian Decretals of the 9th Century

           concerning centralization and papal authority

       2. greater seriousness and militancy of churchmen in pursuit of Christian

           ideal connected with Cluniac Reforms of the 10th Century

       3. John of Salisbury placed both swords in the hands of the Church

   D. The Emperor saw himself as subject only to God in temporal affairs

       (forerunner of Divine Right)

       1. His office was his property and heritarty

       2. The two swords were independent of each other

*Note:  From Wikipedia -- "The Investiture Controversy or Investiture Contest was a conflict between Church and state in medieval Europe over the ability to install high church officials through investiture. By undercutting imperial power, the controversy led to nearly 50 years of civil war in Germany..... It began as a power struggle between Pope Gregory VII and Emperor Henry IV in 1076."

Next week: Universitas Hominum