The Investiture Controversy and Who Appointed Bishops Flashcards

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In the context of the Norman Church, what does “investiture” mean?

Investiture means giving a churchman, such as a bishop or abbot, his job and the symbols of his office.

Why did Norman kings want to control who became bishops and abbots?

Bishops and abbots held a lot of land, wealth and power, so the king wanted loyal men in these posts to help him rule.

Who mainly appointed bishops in England under William I (the Conqueror)?

William I chose the bishops himself, often after talking to Lanfranc, and the Pope did not seriously challenge his control.

Why did popes such as Gregory VII oppose kings appointing bishops (lay investiture)?

They said only the Church, through the Pope, should appoint bishops, because bishops had spiritual power from God, not from a king.

What was the wider Investiture Controversy in Europe mainly about?

It was a long dispute between popes and rulers, especially the Holy Roman Emperor, over whether kings or the Church should appoint bishops and abbots.

Who was Anselm and why was he important in the English investiture dispute?

Anselm was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1093. He backed the Pope’s view that the Church, not the king, should control the making of bishops.

How did William II (Rufus) cause tension over appointing bishops?

William II delayed filling empty bishoprics and abbeys so he could keep their income, and he expected to choose new bishops himself, which angered Anselm and the Pope.

What investiture problem did Henry I face when he became king in 1100?

Henry I had to deal with the ongoing quarrel between the English Crown and the papacy over who should invest bishops and abbots with their offices.

What was agreed in 1107 in the compromise between Henry I and the Pope over investiture?

In 1107 Henry I agreed that bishops and abbots would be chosen in church elections, and that he would not give them the ring and staff as signs of spiritual power.

After the 1107 agreement, what control did the English king still keep over bishops?

The king could attend the elections and reject men he thought were not suitable, and bishops still had to do homage to the king for their lands.

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