Germany had no political existence until the time of Charlemagne, when
it was formed by him into part of the western empire. Towards the
conclusion of the ninth century it became an empire of itself. In the
year 887, Arnold, a natural son of Charloman, and nephew of Charles
the Fat, was declared emperor by an assembly of bishops and nobles.
These assemblies in Germany always retained a voice in the election of
their emperors; and though they often made their choice from the line
of succession, they never acknowledged any hereditary rights whatever.
After the death of Arnold’s son, called Louis III, their choice fell
upon Conrad, Duke of Franconia (912). Conrad’s successor was Henry I,
surnamed the _Fowler_. He was a prince of great abilities, and
introduced order and good government into the empire. ‘He united the
grandees and curbed their usurpations; built, embellished, and
fortified cities; and enforced with great rigor the execution of the
laws in the repression of all enormities. He had been consecrated by
his own bishops, and maintained no correspondence with the see of
Rome. His son, Otho the Great, who succeeded him (938), united Italy
to the Empire, and kept the popedom in complete subjection. He made
Denmark tributary to the imperial crown, annexed the crown of Bohemia
to his own dominions, and seemed to aim at a paramount authority over
all the sovereigns of Europe.’
In these times the papacy was much disordered. ‘Formosus, twice
excommunicated by Pope John VIII, had himself arrived at the triple
crown. On his death, his rival, Pope Stephen VII, caused his body to
be dug out of the grave, and after trial for his crimes, condemned it
to be flung into the Tiber. The friends of Formosus fished up the
corpse, and had interest to procure the deposition of Stephen, who was
strangled in prison. A succeeding pope, Sergius III, again dug up the
ill-fated carcase, and once more threw it into the river. Two infamous
women, Marosia and Theodora, managed the popedom for many years, and
filled the chair of St Peter with their own gallants or their
adulterous offspring.’――_Tytler._ It was amidst this confusion and
these disturbances that Otho was induced to turn his arms on Italy. He
shortly became master of it all, and had himself declared emperor by
the Holy See, with all the pomp that had attended the same ceremony to
Charlemagne (962). Pope John XII, whom Otho had been the means of
raising to the pontifical chair, rebelled soon after. Otho returned to
Rome in fury, had John deposed, hanged one-half of the senate before
he left the city, and wrung a solemn acknowledgement from an assembly
of reluctant bishops, that the emperor had a right not only to
nominate to vacant bishoprics, but also to elect the pope himself.
Otho died (972), and was followed in succession by Otho II, Otho III,
St. Henry, Conrad II, and Henry III, the history of whose reigns
exhibits nothing instructive, or upon which the mind can rest with
pleasure. Henry IV (1056) was a distinguished victim of papal tyranny.
The celebrated Hildebrand, known as Gregory VII, was in this age the
means of raising the power of the church to a height which it had
never reached before. During Henry’s contest with this daring and
ambitious pontiff, he made him twice his prisoner, and twice did the
thunders of the Vatican excommunicate and depose him in consequence.
As a specimen of the power and insolence of this pope, we may mention
that Henry, dispirited by the effect which his excommunication had
upon his friends and followers, having resolved to go to Rome and ask
absolution from Gregory in person, did so; and presenting himself as a
humble penitent at the palace of St Peter, was there stripped of his
robes, and obliged to remain in that condition, in an outer court, in
the month of January (1077), barefooted, among snow, and fasting, for
three successive days, before he was allowed to implore forgiveness
for his offences! On the fourth day he was permitted to kiss the toe
of his holiness, and then received absolution! Henry died in 1106.