Relationship Between Politics and Religion

Between the fourth and eleventh centuries, the relationship between politics and religion included religion being used for military aid, papal primacy, rulers enforcing religious orthodoxy, and religion being used for legitimization. One of the relationships between religion and politics was papal primacy (church power over ruler power) as seen in documents 3, 4, and 5. In the fifth century, Pope Gelasius I told the Roman emperor it was important to defer to papal authority. He wrote this in a demanding and domineering way in order to maintain power over secular rulers. Gelasius I’s letter illustrates the idea of papal primacy where he stated, “[P]iously bow your neck to those who have charge of divine affairs” (doc. 3). Since the pope argued that rulers should “bow” to the clergy, this indicates the power of the pope over secular rulers. Similarly, Pope Gregory VII asserted his power over princes and their subjects. Since the Dictatus Papae was a letter, which was candid, it probably portrays the pope’s views accurately. In the letter the pope claimed he had the power to release people from their ruler’s authority, which suggests the pope was superior to rulers in terms of their power (doc. 4). Gregory VII also railed against lay investiture (kings appointing bishops). As a pope, he would of course see matters of faith as most important because he was head of the Church. His decree exemplifies papal primacy because he proclaimed, “[N]o clergyman shall receive investiture … from the hand of the emperor, or the king” (doc. 5). By reserving the power to appoint bishops, the pope had more power than emperors and kings. Another document that might further this analysis of papal primacy would be a comparison of the land holdings of kings versus the papacy. This might indicate whether or not wealth contributed to the papacy’s sense of superiority over secular rulers. Another relationship between politics and religion was the use of religion for military support