Temporalities

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Temporalities are the secular properties and possessions of the Christian Church. It is most often used to describe those properties that were used to support a bishop or other religious person or establishment. It's opposite description would be the spiritualities.[1]

In the Middle Ages, the temporalities were usually those lands that were held by a bishop, that were used to support him. After the Investiture Crisis was resolved, the temporalities of a diocese were usually granted to the bishop by the secular ruler after the bishop was consecrated.[2] Sometimes this granting of the temporalities could take some time. The temporalities were often confiscated by secular rulers to punish bishops.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Coredon, Christopher (2007). A Dictionary of Medieval Terms & Phrases, Reprint, Woodbridge: D. S. Brewer, p. 271-272. ISBN 978-1-74384-138-8. 
  2. ^ Loyn, H. R. (ed.) (1991). The Middle Ages: A Concise Encyclopedia. London: Thames and Hudson, p. 180. ISBN 0-500-27645-5. 
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