Editing History of Christianity (section)

=== Centralization ===
The [[Gregorian Reform|reform]] of [[Pope Gregory VII]] (1073–1085) began "a new period in church history".{{sfn|Nelson|2008|p=301}}{{sfn|Larson|2016|p=6}} Previously, the power of kings and emperors had been at least partly founded on connection to the sacred.{{sfn|Cantor|1960|p=56}}{{sfn|Nelson|2008|p=326}} Gregorian Reform intended to divest Western rule of its sacramental character, and to establish the preeminence of the church by freeing it from state control.{{sfn|Cantor|1960|p=55}} This reinforced the popes' temporal power, enabling a reorganization of the administration of the [[Papal States]] which brought a substantial increase in wealth. This enabled popes to become patrons in their own right,{{Sfn|Costambeys|2000|pp=367, 372, 376}}{{sfn|Barnish|1988|p=120}}{{sfn|Carocci|2016|pp=66, 68, 76, 79}} consolidate territory, centralize authority, and establish a bureaucracy.{{sfn|Logan|2013|pp=2–3}}{{sfn|Deane|2022|pp=xxiii, 277}}{{sfn|Nelson|2008|p=326}} 
	
The centralization of governance during this period created conflict between church and state officials competing to claim legal and tax jurisdiction over the same populace.{{sfn|Rubin|Simons|2009|p=3}}{{sfn|Matthews|Platt|1998|pp=244–247}} A major example was the [[Investiture Controversy]] in the [[Holy Roman Empire]], a conflict between the Holy Roman Emperor [[Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry IV]] and Pope Gregory VII over the secular appointment of bishops and abbots and control of their revenues.{{sfn|Garrett|1987|pp=5–7}}{{sfn|Grzymała-Busse|2023|pp=24, 51}}{{sfn|Thompson|2016|pp=176–182}}{{sfn|Dowley|2018|p=159}} For the church, ending lay investiture would support independence from the state, encourage reform, and provide better [[pastoral care]]. For the kings, ending lay investiture meant the power of the Holy Roman Emperor and the [[European nobility]] would be reduced.{{sfn|Grzymała-Busse|2023|pp=24-26, 51–52}}{{sfn|Thompson|2016|pp=176–177}}{{sfn|Althoff|2019b|pp=173; 175}}{{sfn|Eichbauer|2022|p=3}} 

The ''{{lang|la|[[Dictatus Papae]]}}'' of 1075 declared that the pope alone could invest bishops.{{sfn|Grzymała-Busse|2023|p=25}} Disobedience to the Pope became equated with heresy;{{sfn|Althoff|2019b|p=175}} when Henry IV rejected the decree, he was [[Excommunication (Catholic Church)|excommunicated]], which contributed to a [[Saxon revolt of 1077–1088|civil war]].{{sfn|Garrett|1987|p=8}}{{sfn|Grzymała-Busse|2023|p=52}}{{sfn|MacCulloch|2009|p=375}} A similar controversy occurred in England.{{sfn|Vaughn|1980|pp=61–86}}