Throughout the middle ages, there were two main powers that had control. These two powers had a lot of conflict with each other. The two Powers were Political and Religious leaders. Also, the power of these leaders changed throughout the Middle Ages.
Pope Gelasius I suggested that originally the two powers, religious and political, were meant to be separate and equal. The religious power believed that everyone was equal, kings and peasants alike. They were all under the same law, such as Marriage and religious practices. On the other hand, Political powers believed that people were divided into classes, and they used systems like Feudalism. The Religious power established courts, to try and punish those who violated the law. The religious leaders were more powerful than political, in the sense that the pope could excommunicate the king, this made it so his Vassals did not have to obey him.
After a period of time, the two powers did not get along so well.
English: Pope Gregory VII
English: Pope Saint Gregory VII saying Mass (inspi...
Seal of Pope Gregory VIIThe Church began to resent the power that kings had over the Clergy. The Popes feared the power that German emperors had over Italy. The Kings appointed the church officials, and the kings controlled them. In 1075, Pope Gregory VII banned emperors power to appoint the church officials. With permission from the Bishops that he had appointed, Henry IV sent I Vicious letter to the pope calling him a false Monk, and ordered him to step down. In return, the Pope excommunicated the Henry IV. After this, the Bishops sided with the Pope. Henry traveled to Italy and Begged for Forgiveness. Eventually the Pope forgave him, and they had a peace meeting but it solved nothing. Henry punished his former support who turned against him. In 1122 the two powers had a Compromise, called the concordat of...