The Investiture Controversy Trivia Quiz

Answer: Bishops and abbots

It mattered who appointed the bishops and abbots because they usually controlled large areas of territory and were highly influential. Banks were not yet an institution, hardly developed even in Venice at this point. Britain did get not its first Prime Minister till 1721.

Answer: Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII

Henry IV labelled Gregory a false monk, and Gregory excommunicated him, starting a vicious battle of wits. Saint Peter and Emperor Nero are not at all of this era. Pope John XXII is the one who declared the Spirituals of the Franciscans to be heretics. John of England and Innocent III battled over Stephen Langton's appointment to the Archbishopric of Canterbury, an extension of the Investiture Controversy, but not the center.

Answer: 1076 AD

It was just the year before that Henry IV had sent the letter to Gregory suggesting that he was not a true pope. 323 BC is the year of Alexander the Great's death. 1095 AD is the year Pope Urban II initiated the crusades. And 1215 is the year of many important things, including: 4th Lateran Council, the signing of the Magna Carta, and Genghis Khan conquering Beijing.

Answer: No

An effort to seize Henry IV's power had already been initiated in 1075. The nobles were glad to see an opportunity to continue the rebellion with the force of the papacy behind them.

Answer: Canossa

This episode is famously known as the "Walk of Canossa." Henry stood outside the gates of Gregory's home, like a poor beggar, waiting for the pope's forgiveness. Florence and Venice were not notably involved in the Investiture Controversy, but Avignon become the seat of the papacy during the Western/Papal Schism of 1378.

Answer: Yes

The excommunication was lifted, but unfortunately for Henry, the nobility at home were not so willing to cease their aggression. The rebellion developed into what became known as the Great Saxon Revolt.

Answer: Rudolf von Rheinfeld

Henry was able to rid himself of the trouble Rudolf presented in 1081. Benedict X, Honorius II, and Clement III, were all consecutive antipopes of the same time period as the controversy.

Answer: The Normans

The Normans sacked Rome while they were there - and Gregory had to flee the city when the residents rose up in protest. The Ptolemies are of a different era, and the Slavs and Visigoths were not so friendly with the Romans that they might be called to assist. The Visigoths are of a different era, besides.

Answer: 1122 AD

The decision was made when Henry V was Holy Roman Emperor and Calixtus II was Pope. 49 BC was the year Caesar crossed the Rubicon. 1204 AD is the year of the 4th crusade, when the Venetians led the pilgrims to sack Constantinople. And 1348 AD is the year of the Black Death!

Answer: Church and State

This just goes to show that our "modern" problems might be more medieval than we sometimes think at first glance.