... had an enormous voice in European politics. The Church was able to "control the taxation of church wealth and appointments to high positions in government." (Tracy 123) Even the Holy Roman Emperor could only be crowned properly by the pope, a custom set by Charlemagne in 800 C.E. (Ibid 323) Being able to appoint government positions, the Church could easily control political ... decisions of states that were identified as Catholic. However, with the rise of nation states like England, France, and Spain, monarchs began to challenge the leadership ... the priests could read and interpret...

• Word Count: 1465
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... conform to the Roman Catholic faith. For example, Charlemagne was perhaps the most influential political leader of Western Europe in the early medieval period, and he proclaimed to love the Church of St. Peter the Apostle and was a devoted catholic (Blackboard, Einhard: The Life of Charlemagne, pg. 56). Charlemagne used support from the Church in the division of sub-districts headed by nobles. He converted to ... Catholicism at a very early point in his life to garnish support and further cement his right to rule. The ... Church's link to political empires often caused the spread of Chr...

• Word Count: 1444
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate