Digital Continent Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul 2016 | Page 30

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Unable to completely
rely upon the nobles, the king
turned to the clergy and the
proprietary church system. In
the Germanic successor states it
was customary that a church or
monastery founded by a
landowner on his own property
was subject to his disposition.
The landowner held the title to
the altar and everything associated with it because he held claim to the earth beneath it. As
proprietor he was duty bound to install and support a priest in the dedicated church. The
proprietor’s influence outweighed that of the bishop. The bishop could not refuse to ordain the
proprietor’s nomination if he were properly educated and morally sound.44 In the proprietary
church system, the lay lord ceremonially invested the cleric with his particular office. This
practice, which involved all levels of clergy, allowed the royal government to obtain stability and
maintain public order through the control of the church.45 The king held authority over high
ranking ecclesiastical appointments and they were dependent upon the king.
The proprietary church system, a constitutional and social principle, was foundational to
the power of the monarchy. By the tenth century all crucial religious postings were dependent
on the German monarchy. Those who held the posts were educated and part of an efficient

44

Blumenthal, The Investiture Controversy, 5-6.

45

Ullman, 143.