Council of Piacenza
Encyclopedia
The Council of Piacenza was a mixed synod of ecclesiastics and laymen of the Roman Catholic Church
, which took place from March 1 to March 5, 1095, at Piacenza
.
The Council was held at the end of Pope Urban II
's tour of Italy
and France
, which he made to reassert his authority after the investiture controversy
with Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
. Two hundred bishop
s attended, as well as 4000 other church officials, and 30,000 laymen; there were so many people that the council had to be held outside of the city. The massive number of attendees reflects the increased authority of the church in the wake of Pope Gregory VII
.
Among the lay attendees was Eupraxia of Kiev
, a daughter of Vsevolod I, Prince of Kiev
, and sister to his son Vladimir II Monomakh
, prince of Kievan Rus. She met with Pope Urban II
, and on his urgings Eupraxia made a public confession before the church council. She accused Henry
of holding her against her will, forcing her to participate in orgies, offering her to his son Conrad, and of attempting a black mass
on her naked body. Those accusations were confirmed in turn by Conrad, who stated that this was the reason he turned against his father.
Also in attendance were ambassadors from Philip I of France
, who came to appeal Philip's recent excommunication
over his illegal divorce and remarriage to Bertrade de Montfort
: Philip was given until Pentecost
to rectify his situation. The rest of the business of the council expressed fairly typical church concerns: there were at least 15 canon
s published during the council, including a condemnation of the Berengerian heresy
; a condemnation of the Nicolaitan heresy; an affirmation of the presence of Christ
in the Eucharist
; denunciations of the Antipope Clement III
and his supporters; and a prohibition of payment to priests for baptism
s, burials, or confirmations.
In hindsight, the most important attendees were the ambassadors sent by Byzantine emperor Alexius I Comnenus
. Alexius had been excommunicated by Gregory VII, and been through a series of reinstatements in the Church, but Urban had ultimately lifted the excommunication when he became pope in 1088, and relations between the east and west were at least temporarily friendly. The Byzantine Empire
had lost much of its territory in Asia Minor
to the Seljuk Turks in the aftermath of the Battle of Manzikert
in 1071, and Alexius hoped western knights could help him restore it.
The ambassadors probably exaggerated the immediate danger to the empire, which was temporarily stalled by Seljuk infighting; Alexius also told them to remind them that Jerusalem was also held by Muslims
, knowing that western Christians, too, attached a special significance to the city at the centre of the world which Muslims had denied them pilgrimage to.
Alexius' request was taken far more seriously than he had hoped. Urban may already have been thinking about a crusade to the east, and the request was interpreted as a sign of weakness in both the Eastern empire and the Orthodox church. It has been suggested that Urban may have hoped that by sending help he could also reunite the churches under his authority; however, Urban II never refers to the idea of reuniting the churches under his authority in any of his four extant letters on crusading. News of the threat to the empire and the supposed threat to Jerusalem spread throughout France after the council ended; in November of 1095, Urban called an even bigger council, the Council of Clermont
, where the organization of the First Crusade
was formally announced.
Most of the information about the Council of Piacenza comes from the chronicler Bernold of Constance
, who was probably there himself, as well as Ekkehard of Aura
and Guibert of Nogent
. No extant contemporary Byzantine sources felt the ambassadors were important enough to mention, although many Byzantine sources from this time no longer exist. For example, the council is mentioned by the 13th century chronicler Theodore Scutariotes, who quotes now-lost contemporary works.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, which took place from March 1 to March 5, 1095, at Piacenza
Piacenza
Piacenza is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Piacenza...
.
The Council was held at the end of Pope Urban II
Pope Urban II
Pope Urban II , born Otho de Lagery , was Pope from 12 March 1088 until his death on July 29 1099...
's tour of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, which he made to reassert his authority after the investiture controversy
Investiture Controversy
The Investiture Controversy or Investiture Contest was the most significant conflict between Church and state in medieval Europe. In the 11th and 12th centuries, a series of Popes challenged the authority of European monarchies over control of appointments, or investitures, of church officials such...
with Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry IV was King of the Romans from 1056 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1084 until his forced abdication in 1105. He was the third emperor of the Salian dynasty and one of the most powerful and important figures of the 11th century...
. Two hundred bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s attended, as well as 4000 other church officials, and 30,000 laymen; there were so many people that the council had to be held outside of the city. The massive number of attendees reflects the increased authority of the church in the wake of Pope Gregory VII
Pope Gregory VII
Pope St. Gregory VII , born Hildebrand of Sovana , was Pope from April 22, 1073, until his death. One of the great reforming popes, he is perhaps best known for the part he played in the Investiture Controversy, his dispute with Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor affirming the primacy of the papal...
.
Among the lay attendees was Eupraxia of Kiev
Eupraxia of Kiev
Eupraxia of Kiev was the daughter of Vsevolod I, Prince of Kiev and second wife of Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor. She was the sister of Vladimir Monomakh....
, a daughter of Vsevolod I, Prince of Kiev
Vsevolod I of Kiev
Vsevolod I Yaroslavich , ruled as Grand Prince of Kiev from 1078 until his death.-Early life:...
, and sister to his son Vladimir II Monomakh
Vladimir II Monomakh
Vladimir II Monomakh |Basileios]]) was a Velikiy Kniaz of Kievan Rus'.- Family :He was the son of Vsevolod I and Anastasia of Byzantium Vladimir II Monomakh |Basileios]]) (1053 – May 19, 1125) was a Velikiy Kniaz (Grand Prince) of Kievan Rus'.- Family :He was the son of Vsevolod I (married in...
, prince of Kievan Rus. She met with Pope Urban II
Pope Urban II
Pope Urban II , born Otho de Lagery , was Pope from 12 March 1088 until his death on July 29 1099...
, and on his urgings Eupraxia made a public confession before the church council. She accused Henry
Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry IV was King of the Romans from 1056 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1084 until his forced abdication in 1105. He was the third emperor of the Salian dynasty and one of the most powerful and important figures of the 11th century...
of holding her against her will, forcing her to participate in orgies, offering her to his son Conrad, and of attempting a black mass
Black Mass
A Black Mass is a ceremony supposedly celebrated during the Witches' Sabbath, which was a sacrilegious parody of the Catholic Mass. Its main objective was the profanation of the host, although there is no agreement among authors on how hosts were obtained or profaned; the most common idea is that...
on her naked body. Those accusations were confirmed in turn by Conrad, who stated that this was the reason he turned against his father.
Also in attendance were ambassadors from Philip I of France
Philip I of France
Philip I , called the Amorous, was King of France from 1060 to his death. His reign, like that of most of the early Direct Capetians, was extraordinarily long for the time...
, who came to appeal Philip's recent excommunication
Excommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
over his illegal divorce and remarriage to Bertrade de Montfort
Bertrade de Montfort
Bertrade de Montfort was the daughter of Simon I de Montfort and Agnes, Countess of Evreux. Her brother was Amaury de Montfort.-Marriages:...
: Philip was given until Pentecost
Pentecost
Pentecost is a prominent feast in the calendar of Ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai, and also later in the Christian liturgical year commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ after the Resurrection of Jesus...
to rectify his situation. The rest of the business of the council expressed fairly typical church concerns: there were at least 15 canon
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
s published during the council, including a condemnation of the Berengerian heresy
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
; a condemnation of the Nicolaitan heresy; an affirmation of the presence of Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
in the Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
; denunciations of the Antipope Clement III
Antipope Clement III
Guibert or Wibert of Ravenna was a cleric made antipope in 1080 due to perceived abuses of Pope Gregory VII during the Investiture Controversy, a title that lasted to his death....
and his supporters; and a prohibition of payment to priests for baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
s, burials, or confirmations.
In hindsight, the most important attendees were the ambassadors sent by Byzantine emperor Alexius I Comnenus
Alexius I
Alexius I may refer to:*Alexios I Komnenos , Byzantine Emperor *Alexios I of Trebizond , great-great-grandson of the above, Emperor of Trapezunt...
. Alexius had been excommunicated by Gregory VII, and been through a series of reinstatements in the Church, but Urban had ultimately lifted the excommunication when he became pope in 1088, and relations between the east and west were at least temporarily friendly. The Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
had lost much of its territory in Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
to the Seljuk Turks in the aftermath of the Battle of Manzikert
Battle of Manzikert
The Battle of Manzikert , was fought between the Byzantine Empire and Seljuq Turks led by Alp Arslan on August 26, 1071 near Manzikert...
in 1071, and Alexius hoped western knights could help him restore it.
The ambassadors probably exaggerated the immediate danger to the empire, which was temporarily stalled by Seljuk infighting; Alexius also told them to remind them that Jerusalem was also held by Muslims
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, knowing that western Christians, too, attached a special significance to the city at the centre of the world which Muslims had denied them pilgrimage to.
Alexius' request was taken far more seriously than he had hoped. Urban may already have been thinking about a crusade to the east, and the request was interpreted as a sign of weakness in both the Eastern empire and the Orthodox church. It has been suggested that Urban may have hoped that by sending help he could also reunite the churches under his authority; however, Urban II never refers to the idea of reuniting the churches under his authority in any of his four extant letters on crusading. News of the threat to the empire and the supposed threat to Jerusalem spread throughout France after the council ended; in November of 1095, Urban called an even bigger council, the Council of Clermont
Council of Clermont
The Council of Clermont was a mixed synod of ecclesiastics and laymen of the Catholic Church, which was held from November 18 to November 28, 1095 at Clermont, France...
, where the organization of the First Crusade
First Crusade
The First Crusade was a military expedition by Western Christianity to regain the Holy Lands taken in the Muslim conquest of the Levant, ultimately resulting in the recapture of Jerusalem...
was formally announced.
Most of the information about the Council of Piacenza comes from the chronicler Bernold of Constance
Bernold of Constance
Bernold of Constance was a chronicler and writer of tracts, and a defender of the Church reforms of Pope Gregory VII.-Life:...
, who was probably there himself, as well as Ekkehard of Aura
Ekkehard of Aura
Ekkehard of Aura was the Abbot of Aura from 1108...
and Guibert of Nogent
Guibert of Nogent
Guibert of Nogent was a Benedictine historian, theologian and author of autobiographical memoirs. Guibert was relatively unknown in his own time, going virtually unmentioned by his contemporaries...
. No extant contemporary Byzantine sources felt the ambassadors were important enough to mention, although many Byzantine sources from this time no longer exist. For example, the council is mentioned by the 13th century chronicler Theodore Scutariotes, who quotes now-lost contemporary works.