Changes

After the fall of the [[Western Roman Empire]], most institutions of Roman [[public]] [[law]] fell into disuse, but much of Roman political theory remained. During the early [[Middle Ages]] the Christian world was ruled in theory by the Pope and the [[Holy Roman Emperor]]. The former had the spiritual power, which was identified with [[auctoritas]], while the latter had temporal power, identified with '''potestas'''. At first, the Pope crowned the Emperor and the Emperor appointed the Pope, so they were in a situation of balance, but after the [[Investiture Controversy]] the Pope was instead chosen by the College of Cardinals.

After the fall of the [[Western Roman Empire]], most institutions of Roman [[public]] [[law]] fell into disuse, but much of Roman political theory remained. During the early [[Middle Ages]] the Christian world was ruled in theory by the Pope and the [[Holy Roman Emperor]]. The former had the spiritual power, which was identified with [[auctoritas]], while the latter had temporal power, identified with '''potestas'''. At first, the Pope crowned the Emperor and the Emperor appointed the Pope, so they were in a situation of balance, but after the [[Investiture Controversy]] the Pope was instead chosen by the College of Cardinals.

As the effective power of the Holy Roman Empire declined, kingdoms asserted their own independence. One way to do this was to claim that the king had, in his kingdom, the same power as the emperor in the empire, and so the king assumed the attributes of potestas.[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Potestas]

As the effective power of the Holy Roman Empire declined, kingdoms asserted their own independence. One way to do this was to claim that the king had, in his kingdom, the same power as the emperor in the empire, and so the king assumed the attributes of potestas.[https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Potestas]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: Law]]

[[Category: Law]]