In the Middle Ages various popes used which of the following to subordinate kings to their will?
A)Excommunication
B)The interdict
C)Homage
D)Decrees
E)All of these

Question

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All of these options were used by popes in the Middle Ages to subordinate kings to their will.

Excommunication was a powerful tool used by the Church to excommunicate and therefore cut off a king or ruler from the Church and its services. This would place the king in a state of sin and deprive them of salvation.

The interdict was another powerful tool used by the Church, where the entire kingdom of a disobedient king could be placed under interdict. This meant that all sacraments and religious services were suspended in the kingdom, and the general population was cut off from the Church until the king submitted to the pope's authority.

Homage was a feudal practice in which a vassal pledged loyalty and military service to his lord, usually a king. By requiring a king to perform homage to the pope, the pope could exert some measure of control over the king.

Decrees issued by the pope could also be used to subordinate kings to their will. Decrees were official statements that regulated Church affairs and could include rules for the behavior and obligations of secular rulers. If a king refused to follow the decrees of the pope, they could be subject to punishment or excommunication.

In the Middle Ages Various Popes Used Which of the Following