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Innocent III: Leader of Europe 1198-1216
Innocent III (r.1198--1216) has been considered the greatest pope of the high Middle he launched the Fourth Crusade, sent an army against the Albigensians, convened the Fourth Lateran Council, and in his struggle for the supremacy of the spiritual over the temporal power, excommunicated both King John and the Emperor Otto IV. In him, many of the abiding concerns and contradictions of the medieval papacy are powerfully embodied. This study reassesses his life, achievements and impact, against their full European background.
- GenresReligion
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
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About the author
Jane E. Sayers
10 booksEmeritus Professor of Archive Studies at University College London.
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October 22, 2017The downside of this book is that it feels too much like a textbook. In a couple of places it seemed as though the text had been whittled down to fit inside a strict page limit. I had the sensation of a shadow book behind this one, one with family trees and diagrams showing the networks of acquaintances and collaborators surrounding Pope Innocent III.
Sayer takes a thematic rather than a biographical approach so we see Innocent III through the activities and interests of his papacy (1198-1216), the development of canon law, crusades, political manoeuvrings in Germany against the Hohenstaufens and the developments in religious life - this was the time when the Dominican and Franciscan orders were formed.
Sayers achieves a neat trick in being able to explain and put people and events in context in a way that is both a clear and thorough explanation for the new comer to the topic but also has something to offer for those who are familiar with Otto IV, his uncle King John or the crusade of 1204. But there is often the lingering sense that was more to be said or explored. For example Sayers mentions that Innocent III and Stephen Langton were both students in Paris at the same time and implies they were friends but doesn't give over the space to prove this or to explore what this might mean for their later careers particular interesting given Langton's involvement in drafting Magna Carta and Innocent III's involvement in King John's dispute with his barons.
There were a lot of issues touched upon that I could have happily have read more about - Roman politics, the position of Rome surviving then on tourism and selling Roman remains, how the Roman noble families built up their local power bases and their interrelationship with the papacy. Sadly the space for all that couldn't be found between the covers of this book.
Sayer takes a thematic rather than a biographical approach so we see Innocent III through the activities and interests of his papacy (1198-1216), the development of canon law, crusades, political manoeuvrings in Germany against the Hohenstaufens and the developments in religious life - this was the time when the Dominican and Franciscan orders were formed.
Sayers achieves a neat trick in being able to explain and put people and events in context in a way that is both a clear and thorough explanation for the new comer to the topic but also has something to offer for those who are familiar with Otto IV, his uncle King John or the crusade of 1204. But there is often the lingering sense that was more to be said or explored. For example Sayers mentions that Innocent III and Stephen Langton were both students in Paris at the same time and implies they were friends but doesn't give over the space to prove this or to explore what this might mean for their later careers particular interesting given Langton's involvement in drafting Magna Carta and Innocent III's involvement in King John's dispute with his barons.
There were a lot of issues touched upon that I could have happily have read more about - Roman politics, the position of Rome surviving then on tourism and selling Roman remains, how the Roman noble families built up their local power bases and their interrelationship with the papacy. Sadly the space for all that couldn't be found between the covers of this book.
September 26, 2007
Jane Sayers’, Innocent III: Leader of Europe is an investigation into the events surrounding his pontificate and the developments of the papal institution under his leadership. This work deviates from traditional interpretations of the papacy which portray it as a linear based bureaucracy whose power steadily aggrandized until it peaked during Innocent’s reign. Instead, she argues that despite the inherent power of papal authority and his own personal dynamism he was ultimately confined by the intellectual, legal, and spiritual characteristics of his office. Innocent III stands out to historians precisely because of his success in light of these restrictions. Sayers’ argues that it was his ability to effectively interpret the laws and traditions of his predecessors that allowed him to take advantage of prospective opportunities within Europe that solidified the strength of the papacy. The product of papal authority, his personal, legal, and political acumen, along with pure circumstance coalesced during Innocent III’s time to give rise to a powerful and secure Papal State.
Although this book is a biography of Innocent III’s pontificate, Jane Sayers outlines her book topically rather than linearly. A brief sketch of Innocent’s ascent to power is followed by a detailed analysis of the imperial Civil War, the solidification of canon law over Roman law, his lenient treatment of new religious sects as well as heresy, and the failure of the ‘Unholy Crusade.’
Throughout her study she argues that his staunch conservative views provided the foundation for many of his accomplishments. For instance, during the imperial schism he insisted on arbitrating between the two rivals as equal powers instead of as a judge, consequently this contestation took ten years to resolve ultimately weakening the overall strength of the imperial monarchy. This power vacuum allowed Innocent III to assert the burgeoning strength of the Papal State. Though historians have traditionally maintained that this was Innocent’s plan all along, Sayers argues that his belief in the right of popes to intervene in kingdom disputes was a byproduct of the influencing effects of investiture, not an ambitious attempt to seize power (91). Despite Innocent’s ability to successfully navigate the imperial schism, Sayers’ notes that his particular achievement lay in his ability to positively adapt to new challenges. In this way, he took a more humane, though authoritative, view of the church which propelled him to pass edicts which made it illegal to preach without a license, while simultaneously recognizing the spiritual and political value in the existence of the nascent Franciscan monks (195).
Despite the inherent significance in Sayers’ assessment, the book suffers from a few weaknesses. As with most biographies Sayers hagiographic portrayal of Innocent III redeems him from some of the more embarrassing elements of his papacy. Her depiction of the fourth crusade shows him as a tireless leader in the organization and funding of the Jerusalem campaign only to be foiled by the greed of its military commanders. Sayers is also more concerned with political and legal aspects of Innocent III’s pontificate rather than his personal religious views. The text offers little in the way of neither the pastoral landscape of Europe nor his own impression of the spiritual needs of his congregation. Analyzing such views would have given Sayers a more nuanced inspection of Innocent’s apparent apathy toward the large standing heretical movements of the period.
Nevertheless, these relatively minor flaws do not seriously detract from the overall scope of the book. Sayers’ detailed knowledge of church history as well as the legalistic aspects of the late twelfth and early thirteenth century effectively argues that pope Innocent III was indeed the leader of Europe.
Although this book is a biography of Innocent III’s pontificate, Jane Sayers outlines her book topically rather than linearly. A brief sketch of Innocent’s ascent to power is followed by a detailed analysis of the imperial Civil War, the solidification of canon law over Roman law, his lenient treatment of new religious sects as well as heresy, and the failure of the ‘Unholy Crusade.’
Throughout her study she argues that his staunch conservative views provided the foundation for many of his accomplishments. For instance, during the imperial schism he insisted on arbitrating between the two rivals as equal powers instead of as a judge, consequently this contestation took ten years to resolve ultimately weakening the overall strength of the imperial monarchy. This power vacuum allowed Innocent III to assert the burgeoning strength of the Papal State. Though historians have traditionally maintained that this was Innocent’s plan all along, Sayers argues that his belief in the right of popes to intervene in kingdom disputes was a byproduct of the influencing effects of investiture, not an ambitious attempt to seize power (91). Despite Innocent’s ability to successfully navigate the imperial schism, Sayers’ notes that his particular achievement lay in his ability to positively adapt to new challenges. In this way, he took a more humane, though authoritative, view of the church which propelled him to pass edicts which made it illegal to preach without a license, while simultaneously recognizing the spiritual and political value in the existence of the nascent Franciscan monks (195).
Despite the inherent significance in Sayers’ assessment, the book suffers from a few weaknesses. As with most biographies Sayers hagiographic portrayal of Innocent III redeems him from some of the more embarrassing elements of his papacy. Her depiction of the fourth crusade shows him as a tireless leader in the organization and funding of the Jerusalem campaign only to be foiled by the greed of its military commanders. Sayers is also more concerned with political and legal aspects of Innocent III’s pontificate rather than his personal religious views. The text offers little in the way of neither the pastoral landscape of Europe nor his own impression of the spiritual needs of his congregation. Analyzing such views would have given Sayers a more nuanced inspection of Innocent’s apparent apathy toward the large standing heretical movements of the period.
Nevertheless, these relatively minor flaws do not seriously detract from the overall scope of the book. Sayers’ detailed knowledge of church history as well as the legalistic aspects of the late twelfth and early thirteenth century effectively argues that pope Innocent III was indeed the leader of Europe.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews