Monarch and Church

Paper Summary:

This paper compares and contrasts the treatment of the relationship between monarchy and the Church in the books "The Life of Charlemagne" by Einhard and Gregory, Bishop of Tours' "History of the Franks". The two writers describe an interdependent Church and monarchy in which the religious or spiritual intensity of a given ruler was often less significant in shaping Church-State relationships than other matters. The paper shows that both books demonstrate that Church and kings interacted for mutual advantage and because, in the wake of the dissolution of the Roman Empire and throughout the so-called "Dark Ages," the monarchy and the Church emerged as the only two normative institutions in a fragmented social system.

From the Paper:

"Gregory (p. 33) has commented that among the early kings of the Franks, Childeric was "excessively wanton." Though a ruler, this early king was in no sense as religious as his son Clovis, who also experienced conflicts with the Church and despoiled many of the Church's sanctuaries until he became uninvolved in "heathen error" (Gregory, p. 37). Gregory (pp. 40-41) comments that Clovis was introduced to Christianity at the urging of his wife and helped to accept the Church through the agency of Saint Remi, Bishop of Rheims. From that time on, Gregory argues that Clovis became a more successful king and warrior and better able to care for the needs of his people. He built numerous churches and enjoyed the support of the Church, which was anxious to extend its own control and helped Clovis crush the heretics by its aid and extend his kingdom over all the Gauls (Gregory, p. 53)."

More papers on Monarch and Church:

• Comparison Essay # 24345 : "The Relationship Between Monarchs and the Church"
• Term Paper # 124241 : "Democracy and the Church"
• Persuasive Essay # 124083 : "Democracy and the Church"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: