The Role of Religion in Medieval Europe

The history of the Middle Ages in Europe is filled with power struggles between rulers and bishops/archbishops. Introducing Christianity brought more than just religion, it brought bureaucracy. Rulers wanted to maintain control over the appointment of important officials, so they didn't have foreign powers deciding for them. According to historian Christian Raffensberger, conversions were often driven by socio-political, economic, and other motives. Historians assume that whoever Christianized a kingdom gained control, enforced by the appointment of loyal bishops. This had political consequences for the kingdom's foreign policy. While bizantine emperor may have had religious motivations, there were also real-world political considerations.