Digital Continent Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul 2016 | Page 36

29

Henry III adeptly advanced church
reform alongside of the interests of the
monarchy and maintained control of episcopal
nominations either by nominating candidates
himself or requiring imperial consent for others.
The practice of investiture was crucial to his
authority and he was the first king who included
the episcopal ring, which was symbolic of the mystical marriage between bishop and church, in
the ceremony. Although an oath of fealty to the emperor was required, Henry was sympathetic
to the position of the clergy and allowed a representative to stand in and take the oath.63 Henry
III was a ruler who truly believed it was his responsibility to oversee the Church and was willing
to advance the cause of the reformers during his reign, while maintaining a strong and firm rule.
Willing to compromise when his royal prerogative was preserved, he became a champion of
reform and won much respect for what seemed a positive support of the papacy and the reform
movement. However, championing reform when it involved interference in the papacy was
viewed by many as overreaching his authority and would touch off a call for change that would
manifest itself in the relationship between his son Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII.

Papal Elections and the Synod of Sutri
In the fall of 1044, Pope Benedict IX, supported by the Theophylact family, was expelled
from the city of Rome, possibly for his reported immoral behavior. In his place, the Romans

63

Ibid., 52-53.