Passions of the Pope: Analysing emotional rhetoric in Pope Gregory VII’s letters

Abstract

In recent years, emotions have become a popular lens for historical analysis. Building on existing scholarship, this thesis explores the emotions of Pope Gregory VII, an eleventh-century pope notable for his reform efforts and role in the Investiture Controversy. Focusing on Gregory’s papal letters, this study will analyse the displays of three key emotions: anger, love, and sorrow, to determine how and why Gregory used these displays to achieve his political and religious objectives. Gregory wielded emotional rhetoric in his papal letters to solidify his papal authority, construct and maintain key relationships, and garner support for his reform agenda.