Lay Investiture Controversy
The conflict over whether secular rulers could confer ecclesiastical insignia (staff and ring) on bishops — a key issue of ecclesial independence. Exemplified by St. Odo of Cambrai's exile rather than submit to lay investiture from Emperor Henry IV.
Preliminaries
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TO THE MOST REVEREND AND MOST ILLUSTRIOUS LORD HENRY FRANCIS VAN DER BURCH, ARCHBISHOP AND DUKE OF CAMBRAI, PRINCE OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE, COUNT OF CAMBRAI.
— St. Odo of Cambrai was driven from his see by Emperor Henry IV because he refused to accept lay investiture.
"when driven from his see by the Emperor Henry IV because he refused to receive again as a gift from him the staff and ring which he had received from the Church at his consecration, he spent the rest of his life in exile at Anchin and died in that exile."