Early Medieval Kingship

1
Early Medieval KingshipDoctrine of the Two
Swords (ca. late 8th century)
God
temporal sword
spiritual sword
Kings
Pope
Archbishops
Counts Latin comites meaning companions
Bishops
Bishops
Lesser nobility
Lesser nobility
Priests
Priests
Priests
Knights (non-heritable, not necessarily noble)
Knights
Deacons Sub-Deacons
Peasants
2
Theocratic KingshipDoctrine of the Two
SwordsLate Roman ByzantineClaimed by Henry
IV (HRE) in 1075
God
Emperor (Wields both temporal sword
spiritual sword)
Kings
Pope
Patriarch (Eastern Church)
Counts Latin comites meaning companions
Archbishops
Bishops
Bishops
Lesser nobility
Lesser nobility
Priests
Priests
Priests
Knights (non-heritable, not necessarily noble)
Knights
Knights
Deacons Sub-Deacons
Peasants
3
Early Medieval KingshipDoctrine of the Two
SwordsGregorian Revolution (ca. 1075)
God
spiritual sword
temporal sword
Pope (Vicar of Christ)
Emperor
Kings
Kings
Kings
Archbishops
Counts
Counts
Bishops
Bishops
Lesser nobility
Lesser nobility
Priests
Priests
Priests
Knights (non-heritable, not necessarily noble)
Knights
Deacons Sub-Deacons
Peasants