Gregory's Influence In The Middle Ages

In the Medieval Ages, in a time when kings and bloodlines were often feuding, most of Europe was bound together by Christianity. This shared religion raised the head of the Church, the bishop of Rome, also called the pope, to a position of great power. Throughout the Middle Age, these popes used their power to wield heavy influence over the running of Europe, whether for better or for worse. Four of the most influential Medieval popes of the Roman Catholic Church were Gregory I, Urban II, Innocent III, and Boniface VIII. Pope Gregory I, or Gregory the Great, wrote several theological studies which strongly influenced the spiritual teaching of the Church. Through his writings and decrees, Gregory I confirmed his predecessor 's, Leo I 's, assertion of the primacy of Rome. Establishing this doctrine of Roman Catholicism, Gregory I declared that the pope was the true head of the church. This belief laid the foundation for much of the papal power and interactions in Europe. Gregory I also confirmed the …show more content…
Boniface VIII issued a bull forbidding taxes on clergy without the pope 's express permission. This declaration angered multiple European kings, especially Philip IV of France, who cut off all of his country 's funds to the pope. Trying to prevent his loss of power, Boniface VIII then issued the Unam Sanctum. This bull asserted that the pope, being over the Church and thus an eternal kingdom, was more powerful than any temporal king. Boniface VIII 's attempt failed, however, as this order only further aggravated the kings. After an attack from which he was initially saved, Boniface VIII died. This assault was the greatest denial of papal importance yet seen, and signaled that the papacy had truly lost its prestige. Boniface VIII lost much of the authority and political power of the bishop of Rome through his failure to work with European