What is the relationship with church and nobles during medieval Europe?

Answer 1

This varied. Sometimes they got along. Sometimes the rulers were stronger, and sometimes the church was.

For example, at one time, in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, when the kings and emperors felt they had the right to appoint people to be bishops at the cathedrals in their kingdoms, and the popes disagreed, the result was the Investiture Controversy, which ended in 1122.

In another example, there was a controversy over who should be pope, with different kings siding with different people claiming to be popes; this was called the Papal Schism and lasted from 1378 to 1417.

But there were also times when the church got into the affairs of the kings. A king could be put under papal interdict, which meant that he was excommunicated, but also the church no longer required people to hold to the oaths made to the king, and other kings could invade his land without fear of censure. This happened to a number of kings, notably King John of England.

Another interesting example, quite different from the above, was the relationship between Charlemagne and Pope Leo III. Pope Leo was adamantly opposed by the nobility of Rome because he was of common origin, and they wanted a pope from their own class. He was attacked by a large mob and taken prisoner with the intention that they would blind him and tear his tongue out. He was rescued, but his position was very precarious. Charlemagne went to his aid, and gave him protection. Leo, supposedly without Charlemagne's foreknowledge, crowned Charlemagne Emperor of the West during the mass on Christmas Day in 800.

Answer 2

The roman catholic church was the strongest church during the medieval ages. They built GIANT cathedrals which took life times to complete.

*Sources: My Social Studies textbook