Page 147 - Encyclopedia Of World History Vol V

1924 berkshire encyclopedia of world history

Like traditional creation stories, the modern account of Otho of Lagery studied at Reims under Bruno of
the origins of the universe remains a work in progress. Hartenfaust, who would later go on to found the Carthu-
But unlike those stories, the modern story of the origins sian Order and be canonized as St. Bruno.After retirement
of everything rests on a colossal body of carefully tested at Cluny, Otho was sent to Rome to aid Pope Gregory VII
information and is powerful enough to have achieved the in his efforts to reform the church and eventually became
respect of scientists not just within a single culture, but the pope’s chief adviser. During his years in various church
throughout the world. It is the first account of the origins positions, Otho filled numerous vacant church offices with
of the universe to have achieved near universal respect. clerics faithful to Pope Gregory VII and removed those
whom the pontiff had condemned. Otho became one of
David Christian
the most prominent and active supporters of the Gregorian
See also Creation Myths reforms, especially during his term as legate in Germany.
Otho was also among the select few whom Gregory VII
had previously nominated as possible successors.
Further Reading At a conference of Gregorian bishops at Terracina in
Chaisson, E. (2001). Cosmic evolution: The rise of complexity in nature. 1088, Otho was elected pope to replace the recently
Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Christian, D. (2004). Maps of time: An introduction to big history. Berke- deceased Victor III. After his election, Otho chose the
ley: University of California Press. papal name of Urban II. From the outset of his papacy,
Croswell, K. (1996). The alchemy of the heavens. Oxford, UK: Oxford
University Press. Urban II adhered to the reform efforts of Gregory VII and
Delsemme,A. (1998). Our cosmic origins: From the big bang to the emer- publicly declared his intention of following the policies
gence of life and intelligence. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University set forth by his predecessor. In the same manner as his
Press.
Ferris, T. (1988). Coming of age in the Milky Way. New York: William mentor, Gregory VII, Urban II was met with a storm of
Morrow. opposition. He was opposed not only by laymen but by
Ferris,T. (1997). The whole shebang:A state-of-the-universe(s) report. New
York: Simon and Schuster. the clergy, especially by the bishops.The pope would also
Hawking, S. (1988). A brief history of time: From the big bang to black have been distracted by battles against the Holy Roman
holes. New York: Bantam. Emperor Henry IV and his imperial pope Clement III
Smolin, L. (1998). Life of the cosmos. London: Phoenix.
Sproul, B. (1991). Primal myths: Creation myths around the world. San over whether the imperial or the papal power was to be
Francisco: HarperCollins. supreme in Christian Europe. Still in the midst of the
Weinberg, S. (1993). The first three minutes: A modern view of the origin
of the universe (2nd ed.). London: Flamingo. Investiture Controversy, Urban II was unable to enter
Rome until 1093 due to the presence of the antipope
Clement III (Guibert of Ravenna) and the actions of the
Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV.
Urban II utilized the conciliar method of church lead-
Urban II ership, holding significant councils at Piacenza (1095),

(c. 1035–1099) Clermont (1095), Rome (1097), Bari (1098), and Rome
Roman Catholic pope and reformer (1099). At Piacenza the pope approached the subject of
the Crusades, after receiving a request for assistance
ope Urban II, also known as Otho (Otto, Odo, from the Eastern Emperor,Alexius I.The more important
PEudes) of Lagery, was a French-born church reformer council was that at Clermont, where Urban II began by
and summoner of the First Crusade who is considered to reiterating the decrees of Gregory VII against simony,
be one of the most influential popes in the history of the investiture, and clerical marriage. The matter of Con-
Roman Catholic Church and in European history. stantinople and Jerusalem was also discussed, and a