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How Did Otto III Influence Religious Authority

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How Did Otto III Influence Religious Authority
The first to be crowned by the pope as Holy Roman Emperor, of Medieval Europe, was Otto I. His descendant, Otto III, was also appointed as the Holy Roman Emperor. With the Christian pope’s blessing already given with their new found title, the Holy Roman Emperor had an abundance of power. Otto III appointed his own pope. This wasn’t a new concept though. Lords of estates had been appointing clergy into monasteries and churches long before then. By appointing clergy, the Holy Roman Emperor undermined the religious authority of the church, making the new pope and its papacy loyal to him. The only way to maintain some power and religious authority was through excommunication & simony.

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