From Bishop of Rome to the Papal Monarchy: Pope Gregory VII and the Investiture Controversy

'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle Ages

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The subject of today’s episode, the pontificate of Pope Gregory VII and the Investiture Controversy, is a staple of undergraduate medieval surveys. The first episode I posted after our summer hiatus was actually one that I wrote for a different podcast, “BEEF With Bridget Todd.” It told of the feud between Pope Boniface VIII and King Philip the Fair of France that culminated in that pope’s humiliation at the hands of agents of the king. The so-called Outrage of Anagni in 1302 marked the effective end to the medieval papacy’s claims to supremacy over Christendom’s secular rulers. And if you haven’t already done so, you might want to give it a listen. In this episode, we will see the first time that a pope, Gregory VII, advanced such a claim, and, although it resulted in his personal humiliation, how it laid the foundation for the Papal Monarchy.

My cohost once again is my partner for life and inspiration for all things medieval, my wife Ellen. I hope you will join us in this fourth and penultimate episode of our series “From Bishop of Rome to the Papal Monarchy.”

Listen on Podurama https://podurama.com

Intro and exit music are by Alexander Nakarada
If you have questions, feel free to contact me at [email protected]