Church History, Volume 2 (of 3)Kurtz, J. H. (Johann Heinrich)
History
Church History, Volume 2 (of 3)
Kurtz, J. H. (Johann Heinrich)
Church history
now transferred to the German bishops collectively, but lay
practically in the hands of Anno, who meanwhile, however,
since A.D. 1063, found himself obliged to share the power with
Archbishop Adalbert of Bremen. At a council held at Augsburg
in A.D. 1062, Alexander was acknowledged as the true pope, but
Honorius by no means resigned his claims. With a small army
he advanced upon Rome in A.D. 1064, seized fort Leo, which
had been built and fortified by Leo IV. for defence against
the Saracens, entrenched himself in the castle of St. Angelo,
and repeatedly routed his opponent’s forces. But Hildebrand
reminded the Normans of their oath of fealty. At a council
held at Mantua in A.D. 1064 (or 1067?) Alexander was once
again acknowledged, and Honorius, whose party the council
sought in vain to break up by force of arms, was again deposed.
The proud, ambitious and self-seeking priest of Cologne had
meanwhile been obliged to transfer to his northern colleague,
Adalbert of Bremen, the further education and training of
the young king, who, though only fifteen years old was now
proclaimed of age in A.D. 1065, as =Henry IV.=, A.D. 1056-1106.
If the bishop of Cologne injured the disposition of the royal
youth by his excessive harshness and severity, the bishop of
Bremen did him irreparable damage by allowing him unrestrained
indulgence in his evil passions.
§ 96.7. =Gregory VII., A.D. 1073-1085.=--Hildebrand had at last
brought the papacy to such a height of power that he was able
now to put the finishing stroke to his own work in his own name,
and so now he mounted the chair of the chief of the apostles,
as Gregory VII., elected and enthroned by a disorderly mob. The
Lombard and German bishops appealed to the emperor to have the
election declared invalid. But he being on all sides threatened
with wars and revolution, thought it advisable to forego the
assertion of his rights and to win the favour of the pope by a
letter full of devotion and humility. At the Roman Fast Synod of
A.D. 1074, Gregory renewed the old law of celibacy and rendered
it more strict, deposed all married priests or those who got
office through simony, and pronounced their priestly acts
invalid. The lower clergy, who were generally married, violently
opposed the measure, but Gregory’s stronger will prevailed. Papal
legates visited all lands, and, supported by the people, insisted
upon the strict observance of the papal decree. At the next
fast synod in A.D. 1075, the pope began the contest against the
usual investiture of the higher clergy by the temporal princes,
with ring and staff as symbols of episcopal office. Whoever
should accept ecclesiastical office from the hand of a layman
was to be deposed, and any potentate who should give investiture
should be put under the ban of the church. Here too he thundered
his anathema against the counsellors of Henry who should meanwhile
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