Extending Gregory VII's ‘Friendship Network’: Social Contacts in Late Eleventh-Century France
Kriston R. Rennie
In the last quarter of eleventh century, Roman Church had a capable ruler and defender in Pope Gregory VII (1073–85). Despite his otherwise charismatic authority, however, Gregory's ability to extend influence beyond papacy's more immediate control Rome Campagna was limited. Filling this administrative legal gap emerging office legation, developing ad hoc under matters reform law. Papal legates such as French representative, Bishop Hugh Die (later archbishop Lyons), became crucial figures machinery papal government. They assumed vital role transmission reforming legislation north Alps while effectively widening VII's ‘friendship network’ encompass influential members local regional clerical lay elite. With assistance ecclesiastical office, moreover, papacy significantly enhanced its opportunity for social contacts, thereby strengthening hold on distant provinces Western Christendom. By focusing existing growing networks late eleventh-century France, article examines Die's an instrument church reform, assesses legate's impact larger initiative France.
History