Learnings: King and Clergy

The social elite did not contribute to the missionaries purely out of Christian charity. To give aid to the Church was to invest in a powerful ally. But even as the Church's influence flourished throughout the Anglo-Saxon territories, a lot of power remained under royal authority. For example, bishops (abbots and abbesses, too) could be chosen from within the royal entourage.
It benefited a king to select the high-ranking members of the clergy, for those whom he appointed would owe him a debt. However, the king's power in these appointments was still limited. The selection process involved negotiation, confrontation, and compromise between Church leaders and the throne.
Here is an illustration of King Oswald of Northumbria, a sovereign who greatly supported the clergy. The Church declared him a saint after his death.
Category:Discovery Tour: Viking Age