How Much Power Did the Catholic Church Have in the Middle Ages?

One of the most unifying elements of the Medieval Period was the Roman Catholic Church. All classes and ranks of people, whether that be nobles, peasants or tradesmen, were profoundly affected by the rulings of the church.
A hierachy existed within the clergy. Following the pope, in order of rank, there were bishops, priests, monks and nuns. In the latter part of the Middle Ages, the pope, as head of the church, had a huge influence over the monarchy and total control of the clergy.
In this video, medieval historian Dr Eleanor Janega explores the lives of those who made up the single largest unifying organization in medieval Europe.
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#historyhit #medievalhistory #clergy #medievalchurch

[@deborahsolimine5438]

I could listen to Eleanor for HOURS! Young people in school should have professors teaching them with this passion, because this makes it so much more interesting! I’ve always loved history lessons, and love it even more now, following you and this incredible channel!!

[@OldManRogers]

100%

[@cleverusername9369]

Dr Eleanor* put some respect on her title

[@eRahja]

You should try her podcast we are not so different.

[@noeraldinkabam]

Yeah, she made the whole show by herself because she’s allround. If she were she’ld be wonder woman. People write her text, she gets as muchtakes as she needs for every sentence. I’m not saying she’s not passionate just that your view of what a teacher should or even could be is a mirage.

[@monicacall7532]

Agreed! When you have a teacher or professor who is passionate about what they teach students that enthusiasm often rubs off onto the students which then inspires them to want to know more. A positive upward spiral of learning evolves. I find that British historians who also present documentaries are extremely enthusiastic about their academic area(s) of expertise. I haven’t always seen that kind of enthusiasm in American academia which is too bad.😩

[@threadripper979]

Dr. Janega is an incredibly good lecturer. More material from her would be a good idea.

[@jedibusiness789]

She’s smoking hot. 😏

[@magnusgranskau7487]

hear hear

[@katherinekelly5380]

I was just thinking the same thing - I’m not religious at all and yet this presenter has me fascinated!

[@Familylawgroup]

I love that she explains things to us Americans that don’t have a living experience in Europe but wish to understand it so much better.

[@marcellocolona4980]

I was a history major at Georgetown, did grad studies at the Pontifical Institute of Mediæval Studies in Toronto. This woman is gold, every history major should listen to her. Wonderful!

[@VarnasL]

You guys are on fire! This medieval series is pure gold!

[@CaymanIslandsCatWalks]

Like Guy Fawkes, the victor writes history

[@GizzyDillespee]

And the alchemist fakes the gold...

[@GizzyDillespee]

Good series tho

[@martyh7771]

For those who have enjoyed dr Janega's youtube vids, she also cohosts a podcast called "we're not so different" which is also excellent

[@DipityS]

I believe I know more about the Church history in Britian than ever before - this sharp lady managed to shove so much information into a relatively short time.

[@powerfrenzy]

I have come to really love all of the Eleanor Janega videos 😁

[@anmnou]

Friday night...ready to leave my work (and daily reality) behind and immerse myself in the story telling of Dr Eleanor Janega....she is so great--I really feel I am right there!

[@MariaCruz-lp2ki]

Excellent series! Love it and love learning about medieval history!

[@HistoryHit]

More to come!

[@williamrobinson7435]

This is great! I was particularly taken with the 'Fingers Arch Period Guide'.. Thanks Dr Janega and team! ⭐👍

[@johnslaughter5475]

I recently read St. Bede's "Ecclesiastical History of England" 731 AD. He says extremely little about the priests. It is almost entirely devoted to the Bishops and Archbishops and the conversion of Britain to Catholicism. He does talk a fair amount of the various abbeys that were set up. A lot of miracles are mentioned, too.

[@bluestarfish95]

Dr Janega is my favorite. She could do a video about dirt and I'd watch it ❤

[@jetsons101]

Medieval history is fascinating along with the history of the Church. Learning about Medieval times up to the Victorian/Edwardian era can help show much about our society and how we live today "the good and bad." Wish I had Dr Eleanor Janega as a history teacher................

[@Truffle_Pup]

Aw man I love Dr Eleanor. Instant click and enjoy. She's just great.

[@danm3570]

this is a great video, never heard the medieval church hierarchy explained so thoroughly 👍

[@casper4496]

So happy to have a new Eleanor video!

[@kariannecrysler640]

This one was very nicely put together. I love learning about how our world was shaped.

[@simonstergaard]

love the hands on approch... this is more of a educational video than a documentary.... i would advise you to do more of this kind of video on ALL you channels... enable people to think by them selves.

[@Xerxes2005]

Actually, monks, friars and nuns are part of the regular clergy, because they follow a rule. The parish priest and bishop are part of the secular clergy, because they are working in the ordinary world.

[@hildahilpert5018]

I have relatives who are nuns here and in Germany.My cousin Edgar was a German monsignor. My mom,s cousin Bernard Popp was auxiliary bishop of San Antonio. I imagine my ancestors in Germany and Hungary were , priests, nuns, friars and monks back in the middle ages too.

[@neko-chan6145]

Yay another one with dr. Janega

[@aanchaallllllll]

0:06: 🏰 Life in medieval Europe was diverse and heavily influenced by the Catholic Church. 4:24: 🏰 St Michael's at the north gate is the earliest church in Oxford and one of the most unique churches in England. 7:44: 📚 The video discusses the basic Christian doctrines, the hierarchy of the church, and the role of Cardinals in electing the Pope. 11:37: 📚 The video discusses the rise of mendicant orders in the medieval period and their role in preaching and practicing apostolic poverty. 15:21: 🏰 The video discusses the Gothic architecture and floor tiles in medieval Abbeys, as well as the rowdiness of university students who were also members of the clergy. 23:03: 🏰 Nobility can establish a community of monks and nuns on their land, creating new opportunities for resentment between peasants and clergy. Recap by Tammy AI

[@ohkaymo]

the real hero right here

[@nicolekindelin1830]

Why do I love this lecturer so much? I’ve watched like 10 of her videos today

[@michaeljohnangel6359]

Dr Janega is great!!! Thanks for this!

[@timothy4664]

A new Eleanor Janega video. So very excited

[@cleverusername9369]

MORE DR JANEGA, PLEASE AND THANK YOU

[@comets4sale]

great work....very much appreciated

[@robbieg416]

This was absolutely wonderful!

[@johnfielding001]

Fantastic series. Lovely that Medieval Norwich received a mention. About time!

[@userMelC]

Really enjoying this series as a whole, and Eleanor's way of explaining the complexities of this period in history, is so easy to understand.

[@Jay-ql4gp]

I always love listening to Eleanor! Thank you so much!

[@voz805]

Love how she speaks loud enough and clearly.

[@fr.michaelknipe4839]

So very well done. Excellent 👍🏼👍🏼

[@HistoryHit]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@insulaarachnid]

Dr Eleanor Janega is brilliant

[@Styphon]

0:54 "Those who prayed", or "Those who preyed"? Either works.

[@katherinecollins4685]

Great video

[@saintjacques8137]

On the topic I strongly recommend Schwerpunkt's Medieval Christianity videos series. He's a PhD in Medieval history and the only person to my knowledge that teaches actually and historically traditional Catholic history on KZbin

[@pammienakh]

I think the Real Crusade series is quite good as well. Thx for the recommendation.

[@robinrehlinghaus1944]

Exactly

[@alexbowman7582]

As John Cleese says to some Holy Joe in a 70’s discussion on the Life Of Brian “a few centuries ago I would have been burned at the stake for this, so you have to say we have made progress”.

[@Skanderberg79]

I Guess John Cleese has been doing a lot of self corrections nowadays. His ignorant take regarding the Church is even more ridiculous today, with the woke morons ando their queer Inquisition.

[@bacoda58]

Keep this Dr Janega aeound......

[@dennisjones0081]

Magnificent, I agree with the lady just below me “I could listen to Eleanor for hours as well”.

[@allanlees299]

From a business perspective, the Catholic Church was one of the most successful enterprises the world has ever known. They created in effect the first multi-layer marketing (MLM) scheme and innovated periodically to add new products such as pardons & indulgences which increased overall revenue without adding too much additional overhead, thus improving overall profit margins. The Catholic Church today is a shadow of its former self and relies mainly on its franchises in South America for residual income. Perhaps in the years ahead a new CEO (pope) will re-invigorate The Catholic Church LLC and broaden its revenue opportunities so as to restore some portion of its former market share and thus improve its implicit share price.

[@froggirl96]

i love eleanor so much!!

[@a.gjosaether]

The video game Pentiment is actually a great resource for learning more about this

[@roblugg]

Love everything Eleanor does. ❤

[@AnnaAnna-uc2ff]

Thank you.

[@snoozeyoulose9416]

Another good video. Does anybody know what these terms are such as Living Rights or Living Benefits, coming from an early 18th century Will. Assuming that it's something that would be a net positive and could "Living Rights" be somehow obtained by someone owning land which included a Parish Church within it's boundaries. Would be interesting if anyone had insights on this sort of earlier legal terminology found in a will. I've tried doing research and have for the most part come up empty. Anyways, just throwing this out there in case someone had some knowledge on the subject and since there is a possible connections with a parish church.

[@swedishZ0mBi3]

She is the best host 😊

[@FimiliarGalaxy9]

The power was in knowledge. Monks maintained libraries of records.

[@Schiffsfahrer]

Of land titles maybe, but definitely not of individual ppl. Individualism the way we have it today is an invention of the Enlightenment.

[@calico27]

Is there a playlist with these videos? I am having trouble finding it. If anyone has found it, pls help dear old me. Thanks!

[@queenvashtiful]

I wonder what John Wycliffe would have thought of Joel Osteen....

[@margo3367]

During the devastating flooding in Houston a few years ago, Osteen refused to open the doors of his megachurch until public pressure forced him to. A true man of god…

[@dwhitt567]

Wycliffe would be appalled at Olsteens flippant attitude about sin.

[@deniseroe5891]

Don’t get me started on Joel Olsteen! Had the unpleasant occasion to have him and his wife come to where I worked for a book signing.

[@Kay-jc3ub]

Such an important part of history is the "church" and how it "was" in/during and still to this day, is a part of life. Even if you don't partake in it directly...it's persuasion on it's population of those involved with it one way or another. This makes me understand the change in the changing of the "church" during King Henry's time plus....

[@rachelw1076]

Dr. Eleanor - history wizard. What a dynamic story teller.

[@rustyholt6619]

history whisperer

[@DayneandtheStars]

Eleanor is great! Very informative and concise. She relies the information in a natural and easy to understand way. More from her please!! ❤

[@maisondusuave]

Brilliant thank you.

[@perfriisnielsen3146]

Very good telling, from this periode of Middelage and the leadership of Churches. There is no defrind from England and Denmark, when we talk about the Churches and there function at the people...

[@theaxe6198]

All the Dr Janega

[@charlesdeleo4608]

And let’s not forget that because the Church had such wealth, it was also dangerous especially in the Early Middle Ages. Due to the wealth it accumulated, the Churches and monasteries were prime targets for raiders…and not just any old raider. The biggest threat clergy in the Early Middle Ages faced were the Vikings. The Vikings were infamously hostile towards Christianity, often sacking monasteries and killing priests all the time. However, these were usually done for financial reasons. Monasteries were full of riches and the monks had no weapons. In essence, they were just banks guarded by unarmed men in robes. And it’s not like this was restricted only to the Norsemen, Anglo-Saxon kings also were known to raid monasteries when the royal treasury was tight.

[@iippo06]

gods bless them.

[@lmichalski1037]

@@iippo06 OH no! The poor rich! What are they going to do to survive?!? You better give them more money so you get to heaven...."mendicant literately means 'beggar'". Get a job grifters

[@iippo06]

@@lmichalski1037 I was referring to the vikings. You're the one praying for equality that will never come. Odds are that you're descended from those monks.

[@Rabbithole8]

@@lmichalski1037 At their foundation the Franciscans administered to the poor and all other outcastes in society including people with leprosy. That was their work. They didn't own possessions because the poor didn't. They shared the food they had with the poor and they lived in extremely poor conditions. They walked barefoot. The founder, Francis of Assisi, probably died from leprosy since he tended the sick for years of his life. He was born into a wealthy merchant class family and gave all is possessions to the poor. What this video misrepresents is this aspect, choosing rather to focus on an obscure point. Although the tension the caused for preaching about apostolic poverty and helping the poor is a salient point. The Franciscans' preferred form of preaching was their ministry. It was the other mendicant order, the Dominicans that focused on traditional preaching. Choosing to focus on preaching as entertainment as also distorting the impact the Dominicans had as well as the Franciscans. Not that is should matter, but I'm an atheist. What should matter are facts. Also projecting your sensibility into the past without understanding the context, which is always complex in culture and societies especially over hundreds of years, is injudicious.

[@thebagelsproductions]

​@@Rabbithole8Excellent point. I know that Francis was viewed with a great deal of suspicion by the church hierarchy when he was alive. Presumably his actions and priorities were viewed as an implicit criticism of the manner that the church operated at the time. I believe that the church co-opted Franciscan tradition after he died, partly due to his popularity among the poor. I don't know the details but I would love to hear anything you can tell me about it. You seem pretty knowledgeable

[@elizabethmcglothlin5406]

Hard to see how they got from the son of a carpenter to princes of the church.

[@28pbtkh23]

Yes - that’s a very interesting conundrum.

[@jacobpgood724]

It got there when christianity went from being an enemy of the empire in the first couple centuries to THE State religion when Constantine "converted."

[@victor382]

The son of a carpenter was a king. Prince only means first citizen. It’s not hard at all, when Christianity was legalized the early Christians could own public spaces of worship. The very first churches were gymnasiums. After it was legalized and became the religion of the empire etc, gyms where naked dudes would hang up and hook up was obviously out of fashion, Judeo-Christian morality kicked in, and the gyms and pagan temples became consecrated as churches, which means congregations. As you saw in the video the land that the church controlled, then as now, was usually gifted to the church. Nobles like the countess that Dr Janega was talking about, built the convent in her land, and made it fancy for herself, and gifted the land to the Church, the Church in turn buried her in the same convent she built, in a prominent and fancy position with her feet facing east, and all the religious people in there spent their time saying mass and praying, for her soul. That was the usual exchange. But since that was popular, then all the nobles were doing it, and this meant they left land to the Church, and someone had to administer all this land, and that is where you have the parish priests, and then the bishops, who boss over the priests, and they have in turn above themselves the archbishops, who is just a bishop that bosses over a bunch of other bishops. The bishops where usually the most important person in the diocese, basically the territory the bishop controls, unless they had an archbishop over them. And that’s how this man got land and power, and was called a prince, first citizen, of the church.

[@rotwang2000]

This religion had an incredibly successful business model. It sold you an incredible afterlife and had a pretty extensive manual for daily life and it was open to everyone. The disciples of the son of the carpenter are incredibly active in spreading their teachings, rapidly building faithful congregations that promise a better life in a world where life is short, full of hard work and most citizens are only a little bit better off than slaves. That appeal snowballs, going from a weird Jewish sect to being a Roman Empire-wide underground phenomenon to becoming a major religious, social and political force, which the Emperors could no longer ignore or get rid of. Once they have a foot in the door they soon push out all other religions and establish a state religion which runs parallel to the worldly power and has great influence over it. When Rome falls and is no longer the center of power in Western Europe, the pope latches onto anyone with sufficient power to protect the church, arriving at the most successful of them all, Charlemagne, who is crowned Emperor in 800. Essentially the church putting itself above the Emperor and being the only institution that can confirm this title. The church is well organized, has a sophisticated administration and therefore it remains one of the few literate elements in society, so they end up controlling education. They also have a duty to work and labour, leading to monasteries that become prosperous and accumulate wealth and knowledge. In some cases religious leaders gain so much power that they are both religious and worldly leaders, like like the Prince Bishoprics of Liege, Cologne, Trier, Bremen, Geneva etc. Or the Late medieval/Renaissance popes owning the papal states and acting like proper worldly aristocracy with armies etc. All this power and wealth leads to severe criticism from people who no longer see the link between church origins, scripture and their interpretation so that a scission happens leading to centuries or religious conflict.

[@28pbtkh23]

@@rotwang2000 - thank you for the mini history lesson. Impressive. 👍

[@lynnedelacy2841]

Could you talk about the Charterhouse in London?

[@jengrogan]

Always love hearing from Dr. Janega, and this brought up a couple of points about the medieval church that I hadn't considered before.

[@sandrahunter5904]

I just finished reading "Jude, the Obscure" by Thomas Hardy, as an adult. My advanced English teacher, Mr. Keenan at Omaha Central High School, taught Thomas Hardy but he left out "Jude, the Obscure". I makes me ponder.

[@elybaby4771]

I love her she's so so good!!!

[@trevormegson7583]

Excellent

[@letsgobs4933]

I believe Wycliffe's first name was John, not Thomas.

[@alexexum6084]

It was.

[@dorianphilotheates3769]

Yes, Wycliffe’s name was indeed John, but the guy looked more like a Thomas.

[@gonefishing167]

So interesting, thank you 🙏🙏🙏🇦🇺👵

[@johnmichaelcule8423]

Haven't you got the 'regular' distinction the wrong way round? A member of the regular clergy was (I thought) the members of the orders, Benedictine and so on, because they live according to a rule, 'regulus' in Latin. The parish clergy and bishops were called 'secular' clergy.

[@cht2162]

Excellent (from a former Anglican)

[@danielmeadows3712]

A former member, have you lost your faith?

[@benjaminblakemore9704]

Oh Eleanor, beautiful Eleanor 😍

[@dwhitt567]

I am glad someone else thinks Dr. Eleanor is a hottie! Would love to see her in sheer black thigh high stockings. Meant as an extreme compliment. She is an excellent historian and teaches in simple English.

[@pegasus223]

Check out the history of the Poor Clare’s who were located in the Throggs Neck section of the Bronx until the 1980’s.

[@stephenwodz7593]

At the risk of being pedantic, Henry VIII did not want a DIVORCE, but an ANNULMENT. He knew that the pope never allowed divorces.

[@otsoko66]

Further, divorces were not permitted in the Church of England after Henry broke with Rome. Which is why Edward VIII (as head of the CofE) had to abdicate to marry the divorcée Wallis Simpson. Henry VIII never divorced any of his wives -- those were all annulments (or beheadings). The whole 'divorce' thing is Roman Catholic propaganda. Kind of disappointing from a "history" channel.

[@marcellocolona4980]

Actually Henry committed judicial murders. He was the Don Corleone of his day with a veneer of legality.

[@nbenefiel]

Unfortunately for Henry VII, he had gotten a papal dispensation to marry his brother’s widow.

[@marcellocolona4980]

@@nbenefiel He was still a disgusting pig.

[@danielmeadows3712]

@@otsoko66 what you say could be argued as correct at least from the Kings perspective , but you must look at the Catholic Church position regarding annulments. Firstly, annulments were taken very seriously by the Church. The fact they granted his first was possible ,but allowing multiple annulments would be impossible. What was the result? Confiscation of Church property and expulsion of the Clergy, very profitable for the King I might add. Then what? He declares himself as protector of the faith, very ironic don’t you think ?

[@hglundahl]

9:14 Was just checking lifespans of cardinals of San Giorgio in Velabro - one of them was _archdeacon_ (not archbishop) in Canterbury. _"[Prospero] Colonna was also the Archdeacon of Canterbury from June 1424 to December 1434, appointed by Martin V, his uncle.[1][2] Colonna claimed several ecclesiastical revenue streams in England, including the prebend of Laughton, York, worth an estimated £33 per annum, a matter of dispute between Colonna and Thomas Chapman, as well as Chapman's successor John Lax.[3] Colonna acquired other English benefices at a time when the right of the pope to appoint English bishops was a matter of controversy.[4]"_ Imagine an Italian archdeacon in an English cathedral _after_ 17 November 1558!

[@kwando472]

Yes

[@judahl4955]

Parishes are also important as they keep records. Without these records many wouldn't be able to do genealogy

[@Schiffsfahrer]

True but those records were usually a thing of later centuries. It coincides with the advent of individualism in the Enlightenment era.

[@nancytestani1470]

Beautiful..St. Michael’s

[@CMAlongi]

"Enjoying a BEAUTIFUL spring day..." *holds an umbrella so she doesn't get rained on by the gloomy clouds* Yup, sounds like London.

[@Pookieeeeeeeeee180]

i learn more from her in 26 minutes, then with my history teacher in an hour. it is both amazing and concerning lol

[@urielpolak9949]

I am curious. 700 years of inquisition lets go

[@andreascovano7742]

9:50 Ironic that the first English Pope Hadrian IV was born a peasant!

[@Lottie-Lou]

This is quite fascinating when looking at the break from the Catholic Church in 1533

[@margo3367]

The Catholic church said the mass in Latin until the 1960’s. I was kinda sorry to see it go - all the pomp and circumstance. I loved the High Mass, the singing in Latin. It was reminiscent of the chants, sung from neumes. Love the series btw. ❤✌️

[@davidevans3227]

latin hasn't completely gone 🙂

[@mrbaker7443]

You can still find Latin high mass in a few places

[@nbenefiel]

Supposedly Pope Francis is approving a return to the Latin Mass, if churches choose to use it. I grew up in Catholic schools in the 50’s and early 60’s. I remember Vat 2.

[@danichicago9140]

The 12th century sounds alot like 1980s catholic school.

[@cleverusername9369]

Honestly, catholic school 1995-2007 wasn't much different

[@louiseyvette2261]

In what way?

[@dorianphilotheates3769]

How much? - Too much...

[@spaceman081447]

What is the Eucharist?

[@jonathanmonck-mason6715]

Quite good, except for some odd pronunciations like Cannerberry and Why-cliffe.

[@kathrynstemler6331]

Ditto to every comment about how wonderful Dr Janega is and how amazing the content is, but I find the oscillation between having her standing talking directly to camera and then sitting seemingly talking to some unseen interviewer a bit jarring. If there is no contextual reason to do so, why do it?

[@evoandy]

100% of the power

[@dirklogan4699]

Throw this lady’s videos on before bed time. You’ll be asleep real quick. And informed!

[@golden_smaug]

I think that power of the clergy was general in Europe at the time, in some places they still hold significant sway

[@troykuersten2831]

I really appreciated this video and found it fascinating, but I also felt that it didn't quite get into the nitty-gritty the way the previous two did. If I wanted to know what a Parish Priest did on a daily basis, what he ate, what he wore, etc., I don't know that from this video. Maybe it's a function of the fact that the previous two videos contained themselves to very distinct social classes while this one ran the gamut from mendicant monks all the way to Cardinals and the Pope. It would have been nice to see a bit more of the day-to-day in addition to the politics.

[@justmyopinion526]

I find it interesting that the Gospel started out Eccelsia and ended up Church and power.

[@marcantoniosavelli1710]

10:20 she meant the opposite, I suppose. Regular clergy IS monks and nuns, whereas secular clergy is non-regular.

[@Schiffsfahrer]

Religion is a very good example for a number of sociological theories:) On power, power concentration, the iron law of oligarchy etc etc

[@sw-gs]

Not all pointed arches mean gothic. Late romanesque castles and churches especially in France were already using pointed arches at it could better bear weight of stone during stress. It was during mid 1100's.

[@bustedkeaton]

Yas queen Eleanor

[@PhyllisGlassup2TheBrim]

What is a prrrsh priest she talks about at the start?

[@Schiffsfahrer]

A parish priest is the pastor

[@jyotivig3666]

I was disappointed that young girls were not given education by the church. I wonder if the nuns were educated, they often taught in schools in the modern period. Could you elaborate on the relationship between the church and women in the medieval period ?

[@billhester8821]

All this effort, and yet....MATTHEW 7 : 23 sums it up nicely.

[@dalecooper9942]

More than it should EVER have had

[@Kamamura2]

8:26 By Joseph and Saint Mary! It's the Holy Handgrenade of Antioch!! The very same that through the grace of our Lord slew the terrible beast of Caerbannog!

[@Fanakapan222]

Strange interpretation of Wycliffe, and what became Lollardism in that it fails to mention it being a proto Lutheran Idea of Making the word of God accessible to the masses, and railing against the essentially corporate power of the established church ? It remains the fact that Wycliffe is remembered primarily for translating the bible into the English language, something that in those pre printing press days was fairly easily suppressed by what was essentially a supranational church that conducted the business of salvation largely in a language inaccessible to the bulk of the population. As for Henry's dissolution of that supranational power, whilst he did it entirely for dynastic reasons, the result was an enrichment of what Schama referred to as 'Those middling folk' ? It would not be too much of a stretch to suggest that the dissolution of church power was, or proved in its unintended consequence way, to be a first step upon the road to what eventually became capitalism as we know it today ? Whilst Eleanor is a powerful presentor that is capable of holding rapt attention, there's a distinct feeling that it cant be long before the famous poster of friend Lenin sweeping a globe comes into play. :)

[@VulcanLogic]

Short answer: quite a lot, at least over the peasantry. Attempts to reign in the nobility had limited success until the 11th century, when HRE Henry IV had enough and marched on Rome.