The Montecassino Abbey in the Conflict between Emperors and Popes in the 11th - Early 12th Centuries

The Montecassino Abbey, during the Investiture Controversy (1075−1123), had an impact on the further formation of medieval Europe, and played a significant role in the relationship between the Roman Empire and the Apostolic See. Not only the German emperors and the popes of Rome were involved in this confrontation, but also the abbots of the monasteries, who sometimes rendered essential assistance to one side or the other. The purpose of this study is to ascertain how the role of the monastery in the conflict between emperors and popes is represented in the "Montecassino Chronicle" (written in the XII century). The paper attempts to show how, in the source material, the position of Montecassino changed over time, and which circumstances surrounded these changes. However, it is sometimes extremely difficult to do this, as many things are specially omitted by the chronicler in order to show the monastery in a favourable light; some descriptions of events in the Chronicles contradict the course of events known from other sources. It should also be taken into account that several authors worked on the chronicle, which leads to inconsistencies in the narrative presented.