Medieval Church History 5 Charlemagne

Church History: Week 5 Charlemagne!! Class Outline             Fall of Rome Rise of Western Monasticism Conversion of “European” lands Rise of Islam The Frankish Empire – Charlemagne The Rise of the Papacy Crusades Separation of Eastern and Western Churches Church-based persecution and inquisition Development of Scholastic Theology The Renaissance Early Reformers © = Connection!! © Today’s Outline  Charles Martellus (“The Hammer”) Charles the Great (Charlemagne)    Impact on Europe Impact on the Church  Separation of Church and State   In Charles’ time Now Question to Ponder  Most people think of church/state relations in terms of the state. As Christians, we need to think about the church.  What is the impact of Church/State relations on the church? Charles Martellus©  Stopped Muslim advance into middle Europe   Just the beginning of a long period of war with Muslims Gradually pushed Muslims out of France and kept them in Spain  Impacts:    In order to raise an Army, Charles promised lands to Lords and higher-level servants The Church was the biggest landholder in Europe After Poitier, Charles M confiscated some church land for re-distribution Charles Martel: Additional Impact  Three basic areas: 1. Created a “national” army. Every free household required to provide a soldier. No reliance on slaves or serfs. 2. 3. Established political control over the church in order to accomplish land distribution Attempted to secularize church hierarchy through appointments. Charles the Great: Charlemagne  Grandson of Charles Martellus! Son of King Pepin III   Gave lands back to the Pope as a gift  Donation of Constantine  Charlemagne’s reign: 768-814  ~30 years conquering barbaric lands  “…proposed the herculean task to organize, civilize, and Christianize the crude barbarian customs of his vast empire…(Schaff)”  Melded church and state to a degree greater than early Roman era (i.e., Constantine) 742 - 814 —Einhard (the King's secretary) describing Charlemagne Charlemagne King of the Franks and Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire 742 - 814 —EinhKingsecretary) describing Charlemagne He was six feet four inches tall, and built to scale. He had beautiful white hair, animated eyes, a powerful nose... a presence "always stately and dignified." He was temperate in eating and drinking, abominated drunkenness, and kept in good health despite every exposure and hardship. —Einhard (the King's secretary)) describing Charlemagne Why Charlemagne?©  Protected the Christian Church from Islamic conquest   Protected the Pope (and thereby the Papacy) Established Christianity as the “approved” religion in the conquered lands  Developed an extensive civil order throughout Europe = Stability Established a definitive civil law: Capitularies Encouraged and expanded education for all people   Education: For The Church  Founded (and expanded) monasteries  Monasteries became “culture banks”  Copies of scripture and other works (Illuminated Manuscripts)  Encouraged Monks and Clergy to learn and teach   Pushed learning well down into the church leadership Letter to a bishop: “I am surprised that while you labor, with God’s aid, to win souls, you take no care at all to teach good reading to your clergy. All around you, people dwell in dark ignorance. When you could enlighten them with your own knowledge, you let them live in their own blindness.” Alcuin  Charlemagne invited Alcuin (of York) to Aachen in order to develop a curriculum for monks and clergy Alcuin designed a course around the 7 liberal arts:    Trivium: grammar, dialectic (logic), and rhetoric Quadrivium: Arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, music Education: For the Masses “The priests are to have schools in the towns and villages and all who wish to have their children instructed, the priests must teach without charging a fee.” Protecting the Pope  Pope felt threatened by the Lombards   Asked Charlemagne for help Charlemagne defeated the Lombards. Expanded the empire southwards  Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne “Holy Roman Emperor” in 800  Head of State and Church  Charles signature: “Charles, by the will of God, Roman Emperor” Capitularies: What were they?  Acts, either legislative or administrative   Ecclesiastical councils Imperial assembly  Charlemagne also consulted his court, which was comprised of statesmen, clergymen, and scholars  Also consulted the Pope, on occasion  Capitula – sections. How the acts were divided. Capitularies: Scope  Marriage    Divorce restrained. Marriage upheld, even among slaves. Divorced persons forbidden to re-marry again during the lifetime of the other person Sabbath  To be observed by all, even lowest class working poor   Church discipline: Government enforced Morals   Warnings against feuding, perjury, killing, oppression of the poor Exhortations: pray, love on another, live in peace, learn the Apostles Creed Charlemagne’s View of Church and State "Our task [as secular ruler] is externally, with God's help, to defend with our arms the holy Church of Christ against attacks by the heathen from any side and against devastation by the infidels and, internally, to strengthen the Church by the recognition of the Catholic faith. Your share, Most Holy Father, is to support our army with hands upraised to God, as did Moses in ancient days, so that the … name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified throughout the world.“ [Letter to Pope Leo] Impact on Church: Then  Protected Church (and Europe) from invasion Secured and protected church writings   Protected the Papacy (next week’s class!) Lessened (eliminated?) church independence  Impact on the Church: Now  Issue of church/state continues today Many forms:     Independent church State Church State Religion State Church & State Religion  State Church: Created by the Government (Monarch)   Government controls (oversees) church Examples:   England: Anglican Church Sweden: Church of Sweden  State religion: Government identifies religion, but allows external control of church  Examples:  Argentina: Catholicism Some Examples of Melded Church/Sate (Christian)       Germany Denmark Sweden Austria Switzerland Finland Question: Do we think of them as healthy Christian areas or in need of the gospel?  U.S.: Independent Church?  Colonial times:  Many leaders supported state (little s) churches and opposed a national (i.e. Federal church)   Anglicans came to the colonies with a tradition of a state church Congregationalists supported a state religion more than a state church  Others (Rhode Island, Pennsylvania) supported and defended religious minorities Establishment clause: “…Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion..” Free exercise clause: “…or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”  First amendment:   The “Wall”  Thomas Jefferson and his “wall of separation” Where did it come from?   Is it LAW? How has it been interpreted?    Then: No national OR state religion Now: No religion at all “in the public square” (i.e., religion as digestion) Discussion Question  Charlemagne melded church and state  Major impact on Christian church throughout history  What do we think is more healthy for the Christian Church today? Summary: Charlemagne  Created a Christian Republic Unified the empire in Europe   Protected the Church from Islamic invasion Standards for government, currency, and the written language Elevated education for all  