Jerusalem

Abstract

Abstract Late in the eleventh century two major struggles arose, one dealing with the Catholic Church in Europe and one with the Byzantine Empire. In Europe, the pope was trying to stave off a challenge by the Holy Roman Emperor as to who would reign supreme in both European politics and religion. Although officially protector of the Church, the Holy Roman Emperor at times assumed the role of dictator, attempting to name the pope as well as lower-ranking officials in the Church hierarchy. Thus, the pope was looking for something with which to increase his prestige in the eyes of European nobility. In the Byzantine Empire the Seljuk Turks, who had been gradually consolidating their power throughout the Middle East, scored a major victory over the weakening Byzantines at the battle of Manzikert in 1071. That battle placed the bulk of Asia Minor in Turkish hands, with the capital at Constantinople destined to become a target.