The Middle Ages was a time of unstable political and religious leadership. Rulers consistently fought with one another for control of lands and peoples. For a king or pope to be successful, not only did they need support from their people, they needed support from other people in power. Alliances allowed rulers to share resources and influence to gain more political and religious power. Papal authority during the Middle Ages was heavily influenced by their relationships with monarchies. When a pope had a strong relationship with a powerful king such as the alliance between Pope Stephen II and King Pippin III, they were successful, and if they fought, such as the hostile relationship between Pope Gregory VII and King Henry, they were unsuccessful
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However, he could not have accomplished this without his predecessor, Pope Zacharias, and his relations with King Pippin. In 743, Pippin was declared mayor of the palace. He ruled under Childeric III, who was a mere figurehead. In 750, Pippin decided that he was going to take the Frankish throne with force from the Merovingians, (a history of the church in the middle ages page 72). His motivations are unclear, however, it was most likely that he was frustrated that he did all the work of a ruler and received no credit. Pippin needed sanction from Pope Zacharias. “Zacharias informed Pippin that it was better for him who [really] had the royal power to be called king than the one who remained without [effective] royal power,” (THE ELEVATION OF PEPIN THE SHORT). Zacharias supported the hard work of Pippin. As a result, he officially declared Pippin king, making him the first of the Carolingians. As for Childeric, he was sent to a monastery in 751. Pippin did not fear the return of the Merovingian line because they did not know how to rule and they lacked supporters, (THE ELEVATION OF PEPIN THE SHORT). At this time, Pope Zacharias only had religious rule, (the legitimation of new orders). He played a key role in the development of papal power, but Pope Stephen II accomplished even
However, he could not have accomplished this without his predecessor, Pope Zacharias, and his relations with King Pippin. In 743, Pippin was declared mayor of the palace. He ruled under Childeric III, who was a mere figurehead. In 750, Pippin decided that he was going to take the Frankish throne with force from the Merovingians, (a history of the church in the middle ages page 72). His motivations are unclear, however, it was most likely that he was frustrated that he did all the work of a ruler and received no credit. Pippin needed sanction from Pope Zacharias. “Zacharias informed Pippin that it was better for him who [really] had the royal power to be called king than the one who remained without [effective] royal power,” (THE ELEVATION OF PEPIN THE SHORT). Zacharias supported the hard work of Pippin. As a result, he officially declared Pippin king, making him the first of the Carolingians. As for Childeric, he was sent to a monastery in 751. Pippin did not fear the return of the Merovingian line because they did not know how to rule and they lacked supporters, (THE ELEVATION OF PEPIN THE SHORT). At this time, Pope Zacharias only had religious rule, (the legitimation of new orders). He played a key role in the development of papal power, but Pope Stephen II accomplished even