314 Gregory IX, Pope
the church, and his personal vindication against the
emperor HENRYIV’s (r. 1056–1106) defense of traditional
religious and political practices. Gregory was especially
concerned with SIMONY, the buying and selling of ecclesi-
astical office, and the elimination of clerical MARRIAGEto
protect ecclesiastical property rights.
At the core of these goals was ending lay control,
either royal or aristocratic, over ecclesiastical appoint-
ments. This was a control embodied in the ceremony of
INVESTITURE, by which a lay ruler conferred church
office on his chosen nominee. In the second half of the
11th century more radical reformers began to challenge
this principle. Unlike the more moderate reformers,
Gregory was convinced that moral reform of the clergy
was not attainable without the elimination or minimiza-
tion of lay control over ecclesiastical offices. He had
always espoused the principle that papal primacy of
jurisdiction in the universal church or superiority over
all temporal rulers was no longer to be limited or ques-
tioned. These convictions were reflected in a document
known as the DICTATUS PAPAE,with the unprecedented
claim “that he [Gregory] and his successors may depose
emperors.”
Gregory’s attempts to realize this objective led to a
clash between pope and emperor and to the onset of the
“investiture contest.” This conflict outlasted both of the
initial protagonists and involved civil war, leading Ger-
many to political disintegration. In the throes of this con-
flict during his papacy, Gregory excommunicated the
emperor Henry IV on two occasions. In response Henry
twice sought Gregory’s dismissal and sponsored the elec-
tions of antipopes.
The first of several dramatic events in this confronta-
tion was Gregory’s absolution of Henry IV in January
- Henry had appeared before the pope at CANOSSAin
abject penitence, which Gregory accepted. This was, for
Henry, a momentary personal humiliation but a diplo-
matic victory. For Gregory, this was pastoral victory but a
diplomatic disaster. The second was Gregory’s death at
Salerno on May 25, 1085. Undaunted by embarrassing
setbacks, such as being hustled out of Rome by the NOR-
MANS, Gregory was reputed to have said self-servingly, “I
have loved righteousness and hated iniquity; therefore, I
die in exile.” Since 1606 he has been venerated as a saint
in the Roman Catholic Church.
See alsoGREGORIAN REFORM.
Further reading:Ephraim Emerton, ed. and trans.,
The Correspondence of Pope Gregory VII (New York:
Columbia University Press, 1932); H. E. J. Cowdrey, ed.
and trans., The Epistolae Vagantes of Pope Gregory VII
(Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1972); John Gilchrist, ed.
and trans., The Collection in Seventy-Four Titles: A Canon
Law Manual of the Gregorian Reform(Toronto: Pontifical
Institute of Mediaeval Studies, 1980); H. E. J. Cowdrey,
Pope Gregory VII, 1073–1085(Oxford: Clarendon Press,
1998).
Gregory IX, Pope(Uso, Ugolino dei Conti of Segni)
(ca. 1145–1241)pope who established the medieval
Inquisition
Ugo or Ugolino di Segni was born around 1145 at Anagni
in the Campagna region of ITA LY. His father was count of
Segni and his uncle was Pope INNOCENTIII. Ugo was
given a sound education, attending the Universities of
BOLOGNA and PARIS, where he studied THEOLOGY and
LAW. He was a deeply religious man and pursued his spiri-
tual calling with vigor and enthusiasm. Little has been
found about his early years as a priest. In 1198, with the
ascension of his uncle to the PAPACY, Ugo di Segni was
appointed papal chaplain, then archpriest of Saint Peter’s,
and finally cardinal-deacon of Saint Eustachio. In May
1206, Pope Innocent III promoted him to cardinal-bishop
of Ostia and Velletri.UGO AS CARDINAL
In 1207, Innocent sent Cardinal Ugo as a papal legate to
GERMANYto mediate between the rival imperial claimants
Philip of SWABIA(r. 1198–1208) and Otto of Brunswick
(d. 1218). The legate failed to convince either man to
renounce his claims but succeeded in establishing a
truce. After Philip was assassinated, Ugo made another
trip to Germany in 1209, to convince the German princes
to accept Otto as the rightful king.
At the unexpected death of Pope Innocent III in
1216, Ugo di Segni played a pivotal role in the election
of the next pope. The College of CARDINALS, searching
for someone to succeed Innocent quickly, empowered
Cardinal Ugo and Cardinal Guido of Preneste to
appoint the new pope. Their selection of Honorius
III (r. 1216–27) as pope proved beneficial to Ugo
in many ways. In January 1217, Honorius made
Cardinal Ugo papal LEGATEto LOMBARDYand Tuscia,
directing him to preach a Crusade in those regions. Ugo
became a successful mediator between Italian cities,
such as PISAand GENOAin 1217, between MILANand
Cremonia in 1218, and between BOLOGNAand Pistoia
in 1219. In addition to enjoying the support of
the pope, he developed a relationship with the young
Holy Roman Emperor–elect, FREDERICKII. It would
prove to be the most contentious relationship of his
long life.
On November 11, 1220, Frederick II was crowned
emperor in ROME. At this ceremony, Frederick took a vow
to embark on a crusade to the HOLYLAND. As a strong
supporter of the CRUSADES, Ugo was later never to forget
that Frederick was slow to fulfill his promise.
On March 18, 1227, Honorius III died, and once
again the College of Cardinals sought a swift replace-
ment. The previous selection success led the cardinals to
approach Ugo di Segni and two other cardinals, asking
them to appoint a new pope. On March 19, Ugo di Segni
reluctantly accepted and took the name Gregory IX. He
was more than 80 years of age.