Investiture Controversy: Freedom And Liberty In The Middle Ages

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Freedom and liberty in the Middle Ages did not mean that one was free to do whatever one wished whenever one wished it. In fact, freedom and liberty instead involved following God. In order to fully follow and obey God, the Church had to be able to operate without hindrance from secular government. In the Middle Ages, many believed in a single kingdom of Christ. Secular and church authority often mingled. As John of Salisbury said in Policraticus, a ruler ought to fight for the laws and liberty of the people so that they could be good Christians in peace. Liberty was the right to follow God. However, kings and other nobility began to meddle in the affairs of church elections and priestley appointments. During the Investiture Controversy,