Episode 37
From the fall of the Roman Empire to the end of the Middle Ages, the history of the papacy and monarchy was one of constant conflict.
In the early days, the balance of power shifted frequently, but after the Crusades, the monarchy began to gain the upper hand.
In other words, during the height of the Crusades, the pope’s authority was at its peak.
Even kings could not infringe upon the church’s authority, while the pope often meddled in state affairs under various pretexts.
To put it bluntly, the canon law studied by theologians was ultimately research to bolster the pope’s authority.
Without solid justification, the exercise of papal power would be criticized as baseless.
Of course, secular rulers were not mere puppets to be pushed around by the pope.
Strictly speaking, no matter how powerful the pope was, it was not easy to confront a king alone.
The humiliation at Canossa is often cited as an example of papal authority surpassing royal power.
Forcing the emperor to kneel in the freezing cold was shocking, but the aftermath was also damaging to the pope.
Incidents like the Sack of Rome, where the city was periodically plundered, showed that the pope too faced humiliation.
Frankly, many believed that regardless of being God’s representative, a pope could die just like anyone else if stabbed.
Knowing this, popes throughout history never faced kings alone.
They sought support from vassals who disliked centralization or even involved other nations.
Even if they claimed divine authority, they needed enough power to back it up to avoid being dismissed.
No matter how strong the authority, without real power, it was just a house of cards.
That’s why I focused on strengthening my domain.
Who knows?
If divine retribution were to fall, some madman might lead an army against me, claiming they’d rather go to hell.
For now, the pope’s authority is at its peak, but secular rulers are no pushovers.
There’s Richard I of England, who has his vassals firmly under control.
Then there’s Philip II, not as flashy as Richard but all the more formidable for it.
And Heinrich VI of the Holy Roman Empire, inheritor of Western Europe’s mightiest forces.
No king is easy to deal with.
Especially with the Third Crusade not going as planned, the Vatican must be anxious.
Cardinal Lothaire’s every word and action confirms this.
Richard might not have noticed, but knowing the full context, I could see it clearly.
“Your Majesty, may I come in?”
As I made my presence known outside the door, the voices inside abruptly stopped.
“Oh, yes. Come in.”
When I entered, Cardinal Lothaire drained his glass and stood up.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
“Already? You haven’t been here long. Why not stay a bit longer?”
“I wouldn’t want to intrude on your conversation. Haha.”
After the formalities, Cardinal Lothaire turned to leave but paused to whisper to me.
“Could you come see me after your talk with His Majesty? I have something important to discuss.”
I had a hunch about his intentions, but I nodded innocently, keeping my thoughts hidden.
“Understood.”
Once the cardinal left, Richard clicked his tongue and gestured for me to sit.
Though he’d been king for several months, his straightforward nature still amused me.
“Did something happen with the cardinal?”
“Not bad, just unsettling… Lothaire is the pope’s nephew, right?”
“Yes. I heard he came here on the pope’s orders.”
“Then I should interpret his words as the pope’s intentions.”
Richard didn’t bother hiding his discomfort in front of me.
Perhaps he was confident I’d side with him over the pope, or maybe he was subtly pressuring me.
Considering Richard’s personality, the latter seemed unlikely.
If he wanted to know my thoughts, he’d ask directly.
“So, what do you think? The cardinal said this to me.”
Yes, just like that.
“What did he say?”
“He claimed the church is the sun, and secular states exist thanks to its light… implying the pope is above kings, wouldn’t you say?”
In history, Richard I died shortly after returning from the Crusades in a war with France.
While his stance on France and Islam is well-documented, his relationship with the pope is open to interpretation.
Records of his participation in the Crusades and singing in church suggest he wasn’t hostile to the church.
But judging by his current reaction, he clearly doesn’t believe papal authority surpasses royal power.
I needed to scratch the itch without appearing too sycophantic.
Feigning deep thought, I spoke.
“Your Majesty, the cardinal’s words aren’t entirely wrong.”
“What? So you think kings should follow the pope?”
“Not exactly. Let’s assume, as the cardinal said, the church is the sun. Without the sun, neither humans nor plants could survive. In that sense, the church could be seen as the sun. Without divine grace, how could we continue living?”
“Well…”
Richard couldn’t deny it, though he seemed displeased.
“But consider this: the sun simply shines benevolently from above. It doesn’t rain fire on those who forget its grace.”
“Exactly!”
Finally grasping my point, Richard clapped his hands in delight.
“The church should do the same. It should spread the gospel and grace, not pass judgment out of spite. Even if judgment is necessary, it should be God’s will, not the church’s.”
“You’ve put into words exactly what I wanted to say. Yes, if the church is the sun, it should act like it. I wish I’d said that to the cardinal, but I’m not well-versed in theology, so I couldn’t counter him immediately.”
In truth, my argument was self-serving.
Even if a decision was claimed to be God’s will, how could anyone be sure?
Normally, theologians or the pope would vouch for it, but not now.
Not with me, someone certified to communicate directly with God, around.
If anyone falsely invoked God’s name, I could simply say, “I prayed, and that’s not what I heard,” and they’d be ruined.
In essence, it was an argument that the church and pope were mere ornaments, and I held the real power.
While Richard might not see it that way, Philip II or the pope could interpret it as such, so I needed to be cautious.
“But now isn’t the time to be at odds with the Vatican. According to Lord Alberic’s letters from France, Europe’s political landscape might soon shift dramatically. He advised staying close to the Vatican for now.”
“If Alberic advised that, it’s worth considering. I see. So for now, I’ll act as a loyal servant of the church and bring them to my side.”
Richard might be a bit simple, but he’s no fool.
He possesses the wisdom to employ cunning strategies when needed.
He smiled contentedly and rose from his chair.
“Talking with you always clears my mind. Oh, by the way, there are people I’ll introduce you to at the upcoming opening ceremony. They’ll be of great help to you, so it wouldn’t hurt to get to know them.”
“It would be an honor to meet the distinguished guests you introduce.”
Until I could expand my domain and start absorbing the surroundings, Richard would need to be my shield.
I bowed respectfully and saw him off.
”…I subtly hinted, but His Majesty didn’t seem pleased with my suggestion. This indicates he doesn’t acknowledge papal authority over royal power, wouldn’t you agree?”
No sooner had my meeting with Richard ended than Lothaire, unable to wait, rushed to me.
Though the roles were reversed, he echoed Richard’s sentiments, and I gave him my prepared response.
“Without the sun, how could earthly creatures survive? While beasts might not understand, humans should bow their heads in gratitude. The Bible clearly shows what happens to those who forget such grace.”
Without changing my expression, I delivered the opposite argument, and the cardinal clapped, raising his thumb in approval.
“Exactly! As expected, the prophet closest to God is truly different.”
“Exactly. That’s precisely what I wanted to say. Why do you think the Jewish people, once the chosen ones, are struggling so much now?”
“Isn’t it obvious? They’ve been making enemies left and right with their behavior.”
To be fair, from the Jewish perspective, it must be quite frustrating. Christianity and Islam, which branched off from them, ended up persecuting their original source. But in the end, it’s all karma.
Most people today, whether Christian or Muslim, find the Jews distasteful.
It’s one of the rare instances where Christians and Muslims actually agree on something.
“But it seems the current European monarchs don’t realize they could end up in the same situation. What did His Majesty say to the prophet?”
“Secular rulers are bound by their nature. Once they’ve reached the pinnacle of power, they don’t want to bow to anyone else.”
“That’s true, but still…”
“I explained it well. I told them that even if following God’s word seems disadvantageous now, it will ultimately lead to greater glory.”
The cardinal’s face, previously filled with discontent, brightened.
“Did His Majesty understand?”
“Of course. But he did ask that we not be too overt about it, as he has his pride. He said he’d be willing to concede if we subtly guide him.”
“As expected of the prophet. Can we count on you to mediate in the future if similar issues arise?”
“If it’s within my power, I’ll gladly assist.”
In about ten years, it might be a different story, but for now, you shouldn’t be at each other’s throats.
I’ll make sure there’s a time and place for you to fight it out later. For now, put aside your petty pride and just stay put.