lay investiture

[ ley in-ves-ti-cher, -choor ]

noun

1. (in medieval Europe) bestowal of a church office by a member of the secular nobility rather than by church officials:

   Pope Gregory VII prohibited lay investiture of bishops and, in 1076, excommunicated the Holy Roman Emperor for his resistance.

Word History and Origins

Origin of lay investiture¹

First recorded in 1610–20

Example Sentences

In 1109 he was unable to compel the Poles to renew their accustomed tribute, but in 1110 he succeeded in securing the dukedom of Bohemia for Ladislaus I. The main interest of Henry’s reign centres in the controversy over lay investiture, which had caused a serious dispute during the previous reign.

From Project Gutenberg

Paschal after some hesitation preferred France to Germany, and, after holding a council at Troyes, renewed his prohibition of lay investiture.

From Project Gutenberg

After the departure of Henry from Rome in 1111 a council had declared the privilege of lay investiture, which had been extorted from Paschal, to be invalid, and Guido, archbishop of Vienne, excommunicated the emperor and called upon the pope to ratify this sentence.

From Project Gutenberg

By this time Paschal had withdrawn his consent to lay investiture and the excommunication had been published in Rome; but the pope was compelled to fly from the city.

From Project Gutenberg

Two years later this great ecclesiastic issued his memorable prohibition of lay investiture, and the blow then struck at the secular power by the papacy threatened seriously to undermine the imperial authority.

From Project Gutenberg