Investiture controversy

The Investiture Controversy was a fight between the Catholic Church and kings and nobles in the 11th and 12th centuries. Kings and nobles wanted to choose who the Catholic Church would appoint as bishops, abbots, and other religious leaders because this gave them more power over the Church. The Church said this was wrong, because only God could choose who should become a spiritual leader. This dispute went on for decades, but eventually the Church won and kings and nobles were not allowed to choose religious leaders.