Frederick Barbarossa

As the municipalities gradually grew larger, popes and emperors argued among themselves about who was more important. The emperors felt they were the heirs of the Roman Empire that had dominated the world and thought that the Church also owed them obedience. The popes believed that taking care of souls was more important than taking care of bodies. Furthermore, the Holy Roman Empire had been granted to Charlemagne by a pope. The church therefore maintained that the Pope was the real master of the Empire and had the right to entrust it only to those gentlemen who enjoyed their trust. And here comes the question of law…