medieval world ID's

Pope Gregory VII

Issued the Dictatus Papae, declaring that the pope was superior to secular rulers. He disputed with Emperor Henry IV over lay investiture.

Pope Innocent III

Declared that the papacy was superior to secular rulers. Called the fourth Lateran council defining transubstantiation, saying that the bread and wine of mass is physically transformed into the body and blood of Christ.

Emperor Henry IV

Holy Roman Emperor during the Investiture Controversy. Disputed with Pope Gregory VII claiming that secular leaders had superiority over the papacy.

Francis of Assisi

St. Francis who started the Franciscan movement. A movement that required people to take a vow of poverty and public service.

Clare of Assisi

13th century abbess who started the poor Clares movement, focusing on poverty and a personal connection to god. First women to write religious rule for women.

St. Dominic

Started the mendicant movement, a religious order that was not attached to a monastery but moved around to newly developing urban environments and in universities.

Joan of Arc

A peasant girl who claimed to be under divine guidance. Turned the 100 years war around for the French at the Siege of Orleans in 1429.

Charles VII

French king who ended the 100 Years War. Centralized French authority by addressing internal wars and limiting the power of feudal lords

Edward III

English king who started the 100 Years War. Made England a into a European power by modernizing the government and creating a larger English identity.

Marco Polo

Bridged the gap of knowledge between Europe and Asia. Inspired the age of exploration.

Margery Kemp

Merchant class woman who dictated her biography. Her biography recounts her pilgrimages and her experience of motherhood.