Religious Exemption, Justice, and Territories around the Year 1000: The Forgeries of Worms
Thomas Köhl
While immunities were perhaps the most important form of religious exemption in medieval West throughout Middle Ages, they have not been studied extensively for period around turn millennium. This paper treats from perspective institutions that received them, drawing on example bishops Worms southwestern Germany. Two questions are asked: 1) What did expect receiving immunities? 2) Can we tell if had consequences practice? The unique sources â a dossier forged or interpolated royal charters created by Bishop Hildibald (978-998), and numerous documents connected to his successor Burchard (1000-1025) make it possible study these depth. Hildibaldâs one starting point redrawing regional power structures favour church thus its developing territorial lordship. In part, expanded property immunity rights, but forgeries mostly concerned with specifying defining terms already possessed face competition monastery Lorsch Salian dukes counts. suggests practical advantages income what made interesting church. used close ties Emperor Henry II achieve large degree independence political powers, relying part charters. As result this, countsâ powers all abolished, judicial matters lay hand bishop. These changes structure accompanied outbreaks violence, which countered emperorâs intervention promulgation new laws
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