The Papal Reform of the Eleventh Century: Lives of Pope Leo IX and Pope Gregory VII (Manchester Medieval Sources)

The eleventh-century papal reform transformed the western European Church and society and permanently altered the relations of Church and State in the west. The reform was inaugurated by Pope Leo IX (1048-54) and given a controversial change of direction by Pope Gregory VII (1073-85). This book contains the earliest biographies of both popes, presented here for the first time in English translation with detailed commentaries. The biographers of Leo IX were inspired by his universally acknowledged sanctity, whereas the biographers of Gregory VII wrote to defend his reputation against the hostility generated by his reforming methods and his conflict with King Henry IV. Also included is a translation of Book to a Friend , written by Bishop Bonizo of Sutri soon after the death of Gregory VII, as well as an extract from the violently anti-Gregorian polemic of Bishop Benzo of Alba (1085) and the short biography of Leo IX composed in the papal curia in the 1090s by Bishop Bruno of Segni. The eleventh-century papal reform transformed western European Church and society and permanently altered the relations of Church and State in the west. The reform was inaugurated by Pope Leo IX (1048/9-1054) and given a controversial change of direction by Pope Gregory VII (1073-85).

This book contains the earliest biographies of Leo IX and Gregory VII, presented here for the first time in English translation with detailed commentaries. The biographers of Leo IX were inspired by his universally acknowledged sanctity, whereas the biographers of Gregory VII wrote to defend his reputation against the hostility generated by his reforming methods and his conflict with the German king Henry IV. The earliest Life of Leo IX, begun during his lifetime, was the work of an anonymous Lotharingian author, perhaps a monk of the abbey of St Evre in the diocese of Toul, where Leo had once been bishop. The papal reform movement is the principal subject of the Book to a Friend, written by Bishop Bonizo of Sutri soon after the death of Gregory VII (1085). Bonizo sought to defend Gregory against the critics who denounced him as a schismatic and warmonger. The defence of the Pope's reputation was also the purpose of the Life of Gregory VII composed by Paul of Bernried in 1128. This collection also contains an extract from the violently anti-Gregorian polemic of Bishop Benzo of Alba (1085) and the short biography of Leo IX composed in the papal curia in the 1090s by Bishop Bruno of Segni.

These narrative sources bear witness to the startling impact of the papal reform and of the 'Investiture Contest', the conflict of empire and papacy that was one of its consequences.

The eleventh-century papal reform transformed western European Church and society and permanently altered the relations of Church and State in the west. The reform was inaugurated by Pope Leo IX (1048-54) and given a controversial change of direction by Pope Gregory VII (1073-85). This book contains the earliest biographies of both popes, presented here for the first time in English translation with detailed commentaries. The biographers of Leo IX were inspired by his universally acknowledged sanctity, whereas the biographers of Gregory VII wrote to defend his reputation against the hostility generated by his reforming methods and his conflict with King Henry IV. Also included is a translation of Book to a Friend, written by Bishop Bonizo of Sutri soon after the death of Gregory VII, as well as an extract from the violently anti-Gregorian polemic of Bishop Benzo of Alba (1085) and the short biography of Leo IX composed in the papal curia in the 1090s by Bishop Bruno of Segni. These fascinating narrative sources bear witness to the startling impact of the papal reform and of the 'Investiture Contest', the conflict of empire and papacy that was one of its consequences. An essential collection of translated texts for students of medieval history. Contents Series Editor's Foreword Acknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction The Life of Pope Leo IX Prologue The First Book The Second Book The Book of Bishop Bonizo of Sutri which is entitled ‘To a Friend’ Book I Book II Book III Book IV Book V Book VI Book VII Book VIII Book IX Paul of Bernried, The Life of Pope Gregory VII APPENDIX I: Benzo of Alba to Emperor Henry IV APPENDIX II: Bruno of Segni, The Sermon of the Venerable Bishop Bruno concerning Simoniacs1 Bibliography Index This fascinating collection of sources, translated for the first time in English and assembled in one accessible volume, show the startling impact of papal reform in the eleventh century and its consequences. An essential collection for students of medieval history