Pope Paschal II
Encyclopedia
Pope Paschal II born Ranierius, was Pope
from August 13, 1099, until his death. A monk of the Cluniac order, he was created cardinal priest of the Titulus S. Clementi
by Pope Gregory VII
(1073–85) about 1076, and was consecrated pope in succession to Pope Urban II
(1088–99) on August 19, 1099.
, Romagna
. In the long struggle with the Emperors over investiture
, he zealously carried on the Hildebrandine
policy, but with only partial success. In 1104 Paschal II succeeded in instigating the Emperor's second son to rebel against his father, but soon found Emperor Henry V (1105–25) even more persistent in maintaining the right of investiture than Emperor Henry IV (1056–1105) had been. The imperial Diet
at Mainz
invited Paschal II to visit Germany and settle the trouble in January 1106, but the Pope in the Council of Guastalla
(October 1106) simply renewed the prohibition of investiture. In the same year he brought to an end the investiture struggle in England
, in which Anselm
, archbishop of Canterbury
, had been engaged with Henry I of England
(1100–35), by retaining to himself exclusive right to invest with the ring and crozier, but recognizing the royal nomination to vacate benefice
s and the oath of fealty for temporal domains. He went to France
at the close of 1106 to seek the mediation of Philip I of France
(1060–1108) and Prince Louis in the imperial struggle, but, his negotiations remaining without result, he returned to Italy in September 1107. When Henry V advanced with an army into Italy in order to be crowned, the Pope agreed to a compact (February 1111), by the terms of which the Church should surrender all the possessions and royalties it had received of the empire and kingdom of Italy since the days of Charlemagne
(768–814), while Henry V on his side should renounce lay investiture. Preparations were made for the coronation on 12 February 1111, but the Romans rose in revolt against him, and the German king retired taking the Pope and curia with him.
After 61 days of harsh imprisonment, during which Prince Robert I of Capua
's Norman army was repulsed on its rescue mission, Paschal II yielded and guaranteed investiture to the emperor. Henry V was then crowned in St. Peter's
on 13 April 1111, and, after exacting a promise that no revenge would be taken for what had happened, withdrew beyond the Alps
. The Hildebrandine party was aroused to action, however; a Lateran
council of March 1112 declared null and void the concessions extorted by violence; a council held at Vienne
in October 1111 actually excommunicated the emperor, and Paschal II sanctioned the proceeding. Towards the end of his pontificate trouble began anew in England; Paschal II complained (1115) that councils were held and bishops translated without his authorization, and threatened Henry I with excommunication
. On the death of the countess Matilda, who was said to have bequeathed all her allodial lands to the Church (1115), a donation neither publicly acknowledged in Rome nor has any record come down to us, the emperor at once laid claim to them as imperial fiefs and forced the Pope to flee from Rome. Paschal II returned after the emperor's withdrawal at the beginning of 1118, but died within a few days on January 21, 1118.
, on the ashes of the one burned during the Norman Sack of Rome (1084)
.
During his papacy some efforts were made by the Byzantine
Emperor Alexios I to bridge the schism
between the Orthodox and the Catholic Church but these failed, as Pascal II, in late 1112, pressed the demand that the Patriarch of Constantinople recognise the Pope's primacy over "all the churches of God throughout the world". This was something the patriarch could not do in face of opposition from the majority of secular clergy, the monastic world, and the laity. Pascal's demand remained the status quo condition for re-unification of the Churches, and has never been practically achieved.
The first bishop of America
was appointed during Paschal II's reign, nearly four centuries before Columbus
's first voyage across the Atlantic. Erik Gnupsson
was given the province of Greenland
and Vinland
, the latter believed to refer to what is now Newfoundland.
Pope Paschal II issued the bull "Pie postulatio voluntatis" on February 15, 1113. It brought under Papal protection and confirmed as a religious order the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, later known as the Knights Hospitaller and today known as the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta. It also confirmed the order's acquisitions and donations in Europe and Asia and exempted it from all authority save that of the Pope.
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
from August 13, 1099, until his death. A monk of the Cluniac order, he was created cardinal priest of the Titulus S. Clementi
Basilica di San Clemente
The Basilica of Saint Clement is a Roman Catholic minor basilica dedicated to Pope Clement I located in Rome, Italy. Archaeologically speaking, the structure is a three-tiered complex of buildings: the present basilica built just before the year 1100 during the height of the Middle Ages; beneath...
by 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...
(1073–85) about 1076, and was consecrated pope in succession to 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...
(1088–99) on August 19, 1099.
Biography
He was born in Bleda, near ForlìForlì
Forlì is a comune and city in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, and is the capital of the province of Forlì-Cesena. The city is situated along the Via Emilia, to the right of the Montone river, and is an important agricultural centre...
, Romagna
Romagna
Romagna is an Italian historical region that approximately corresponds to the south-eastern portion of present-day Emilia-Romagna. Traditionally, it is limited by the Apennines to the south-west, the Adriatic to the east, and the rivers Reno and Sillaro to the north and west...
. In the long struggle with the Emperors over investiture
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...
, he zealously carried on the Hildebrandine
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...
policy, but with only partial success. In 1104 Paschal II succeeded in instigating the Emperor's second son to rebel against his father, but soon found Emperor Henry V (1105–25) even more persistent in maintaining the right of investiture than Emperor Henry IV (1056–1105) had been. The imperial Diet
Diet (assembly)
In politics, a diet is a formal deliberative assembly. The term is mainly used historically for the Imperial Diet, the general assembly of the Imperial Estates of the Holy Roman Empire, and for the legislative bodies of certain countries.-Etymology:...
at Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
invited Paschal II to visit Germany and settle the trouble in January 1106, but the Pope in the Council of Guastalla
Guastalla
Guastalla is a town and comune in the province of Reggio Emilia in Emilia-Romagna, Italy.-Geography:Guastalla is situated in the Po Valley, and lies on the banks of the Po River...
(October 1106) simply renewed the prohibition of investiture. In the same year he brought to an end the investiture struggle in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, in which Anselm
Anselm of Canterbury
Anselm of Canterbury , also called of Aosta for his birthplace, and of Bec for his home monastery, was a Benedictine monk, a philosopher, and a prelate of the church who held the office of Archbishop of Canterbury from 1093 to 1109...
, archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, had been engaged with Henry I of England
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
(1100–35), by retaining to himself exclusive right to invest with the ring and crozier, but recognizing the royal nomination to vacate benefice
Benefice
A benefice is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The term is now almost obsolete.-Church of England:...
s and the oath of fealty for temporal domains. He went to 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...
at the close of 1106 to seek the mediation of 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...
(1060–1108) and Prince Louis in the imperial struggle, but, his negotiations remaining without result, he returned to Italy in September 1107. When Henry V advanced with an army into Italy in order to be crowned, the Pope agreed to a compact (February 1111), by the terms of which the Church should surrender all the possessions and royalties it had received of the empire and kingdom of Italy since the days of Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
(768–814), while Henry V on his side should renounce lay investiture. Preparations were made for the coronation on 12 February 1111, but the Romans rose in revolt against him, and the German king retired taking the Pope and curia with him.
After 61 days of harsh imprisonment, during which Prince Robert I of Capua
Robert I of Capua
Robert I , count of Aversa and prince of Capua from 1106, on the death of his elder and heirless brother Richard, was the second eldest son of Jordan I of Capua and Gaitelgrima, daughter of Guaimar IV of Salerno....
's Norman army was repulsed on its rescue mission, Paschal II yielded and guaranteed investiture to the emperor. Henry V was then crowned in St. Peter's
St. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter , officially known in Italian as ' and commonly known as Saint Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. Saint Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world...
on 13 April 1111, and, after exacting a promise that no revenge would be taken for what had happened, withdrew beyond the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
. The Hildebrandine party was aroused to action, however; a Lateran
Lateran
Lateran and Laterano are the shared names of several architectural projects throughout Rome. The properties were once owned by the Lateranus family of the former Roman Empire...
council of March 1112 declared null and void the concessions extorted by violence; a council held at Vienne
Vienne
Vienne is the northernmost département of the Poitou-Charentes region of France, named after the river Vienne.- Viennese history :Vienne is one of the original 83 departments, established on March 4, 1790 during the French Revolution. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Poitou,...
in October 1111 actually excommunicated the emperor, and Paschal II sanctioned the proceeding. Towards the end of his pontificate trouble began anew in England; Paschal II complained (1115) that councils were held and bishops translated without his authorization, and threatened Henry I with 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...
. On the death of the countess Matilda, who was said to have bequeathed all her allodial lands to the Church (1115), a donation neither publicly acknowledged in Rome nor has any record come down to us, the emperor at once laid claim to them as imperial fiefs and forced the Pope to flee from Rome. Paschal II returned after the emperor's withdrawal at the beginning of 1118, but died within a few days on January 21, 1118.
Actions during his reign
Pope Paschal II ordered the building of the new basilica of Santi Quattro CoronatiSanti Quattro Coronati
Santi Quattro Coronati is an ancient basilica in Rome, Italy. The church dates back to the 4th century, and is devoted to four anonymous saints and martyrs. The complex of the basilica with its two courtyards, the fortified Cardinal Palace with the St...
, on the ashes of the one burned during the Norman Sack of Rome (1084)
Sack of Rome (1084)
The Sack of Rome of May 1084 was a Norman sack, the result of the pope's call for aid from the duke of Apulia, Robert Guiscard.Pope Gregory VII was besieged in the Castel Sant'Angelo by the Emperor Henry IV in June 1083. He held out and called for aid from the Guiscard, who was then fighting the...
.
During his papacy some efforts were made by the Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
Emperor Alexios I to bridge the schism
East–West Schism
The East–West Schism of 1054, sometimes known as the Great Schism, formally divided the State church of the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western branches, which later became known as the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, respectively...
between the Orthodox and the Catholic Church but these failed, as Pascal II, in late 1112, pressed the demand that the Patriarch of Constantinople recognise the Pope's primacy over "all the churches of God throughout the world". This was something the patriarch could not do in face of opposition from the majority of secular clergy, the monastic world, and the laity. Pascal's demand remained the status quo condition for re-unification of the Churches, and has never been practically achieved.
The first bishop of America
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
was appointed during Paschal II's reign, nearly four centuries before Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
's first voyage across the Atlantic. Erik Gnupsson
Erik Gnupsson
Erik Gnupsson or Eiríkr Gnúpsson, also known as Henricus , was born in Iceland. He became a clergyman and later was appointed the Bishop of Greenland, residing at Garðar.-See also:*Leif Eriksson...
was given the province of Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
and Vinland
Vinland
Vinland was the name given to an area of North America by the Norsemen, about the year 1000 CE.There is a consensus among scholars that the Vikings reached North America approximately five centuries prior to the voyages of Christopher Columbus...
, the latter believed to refer to what is now Newfoundland.
Pope Paschal II issued the bull "Pie postulatio voluntatis" on February 15, 1113. It brought under Papal protection and confirmed as a religious order the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, later known as the Knights Hospitaller and today known as the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta. It also confirmed the order's acquisitions and donations in Europe and Asia and exempted it from all authority save that of the Pope.
See also
- First Council of the LateranFirst Council of the LateranThe Council of 1123 is reckoned in the series of Ecumenical councils by the Catholic Church. It was convoked by Pope Calixtus II in December, 1122, immediately after the Concordat of Worms...
- Concordat of WormsConcordat of WormsThe Concordat of Worms, sometimes called the Pactum Calixtinum by papal historians, was an agreement between Pope Calixtus II and Holy Roman Emperor Henry V on September 23, 1122 near the city of Worms...