CHAPTER XXIV INNOCENT III AND THE STATES OF EUROPE S Innocent aimed to be supreme, not only over the clergy, !>ut over the kings and feudal lords of Europe. "We are stablished by God above peoples and realms" Papal over- yas one of his favorite utterances. The policy lordshl P »f making the monarchs of Europe vassals of the Papacy
- eached the height of its success under him. During his first
rear in office he demanded prompt settlement of all arrears if tribute owed to the pope from these fiefs. As his pontifi- cate proceeded, he brought yet other rulers into vassalage !o the Holy See, or humbled them in one way or another. 'The Duke of Bohemia was rebuked, the King of Denmark omforted, the nobles of Iceland warned, the King of Hun- gry admonished. Serbia, Bulgaria, even remote Armenia, eceived papal supervision and paternal care." Innocent hterfered to settle disputed successions to thrones or quar- lels in royal families, to stop wars and to induce rulers to bin the crusade. I What Innocent intended the feudal relationships of these tings to himself to be may be inferred from two oaths of jealty taken by Peter II of Aragon, who came Oaths of o Rome to receive his crown at the Pope's own b^etl^T land. At the coronation ceremony the king took of Aragon he following oath: "I, Peter, King of Aragon, confess and wear that I will ever be the obedient vassal of my Lord, 3 ope Innocent, and his Catholic successors, and of the loman Church. I will faithfully keep my realm in his obe- lience, will defend the Catholic Faith, and will persecute leresy. I will respect the liberties and immunities of the "hurch, and will make others observe its rights. I will strive o establish peace and justice in all the territory subject to ay control. I swear it by God's name and on these holy Gospels." Pope and king then visited the basilica of
