983 – 1525 AD Flashcards
Power Struggles, Emperors & Fragmentation
What three powers competed for control of medieval Germany?
The King, the Nobles, and the Pope.
Why was the German monarchy weaker than in England or France?
It remained elective, not hereditary—kings needed noble support to rule.
What did the Investiture Crisis (1075–1122) center on?
Who had the right to appoint (invest) bishops—the Pope or the Emperor.
What was Henry IV’s famous act of submission to the Pope?
Walking barefoot to Canossa in 1077 to seek forgiveness from Pope Gregory VII.
What was the Concordat of Worms (1122)?
A compromise ending the Investiture Crisis: Popes appointed bishops spiritually, emperors gave temporal authority.
What family rose to power after the Investiture Crisis?
The Hohenstaufens.
What grand project obsessed the Hohenstaufen emperors?
Controlling Italy and reviving a strong Roman Empire.
What was the political cost of the Hohenstaufen focus on Italy?
Neglect of Germany—letting nobles and cities grow independent.
What happened to the Holy Roman Empire after the death of Frederick II (1250)?
It entered a long period of decentralization and weak monarchy.
What was the Golden Bull of 1356?
A decree establishing the seven prince-electors who chose the German king.
What kind of state did Germany become by the 14th century?
A patchwork of semi-sovereign duchies, cities, and church lands.
What region led the growing independence of German cities?
The Rhineland and northern towns like Lübeck and Hamburg.
What trade alliance grew powerful in Northern Germany?
The Hanseatic League.
What was the Teutonic Order?
A German crusading military order that conquered pagan lands in the Baltic.
What city became a major Teutonic base and symbol?
Marienburg (in modern-day Poland).
Who was Jan Hus?
A Bohemian reformer influenced by Wycliffe, burned at the stake in 1415.
What did the Hussite Wars (1419–1434) demonstrate?
The power of religious dissent and the weakness of imperial authority.
How was Germany unique during the late medieval period?
It remained divided and decentralized while other kingdoms centralized.
What trend began separating Germany culturally from France?
The survival of regional dialects and lack of a unified national language.
What did many historians call the Holy Roman Empire?
“Neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire.” (Voltaire’s quip.)
Why was the term ‘Holy Roman Emperor’ misleading?
The Emperor had little direct power over most of Germany.
Who held real power in the German lands by 1500?
Regional dukes, bishops, and independent cities.
What major cultural change was about to challenge the Church’s dominance?
The Protestant Reformation, starting with Martin Luther in 1517.
What major theme runs through medieval German history?
A constant tension between central imperial ambition and local independence.
