Did the pope replace roman emperors during medieval/dark ages?

Question

Not looking for a religious debate, just trying to get some facts about European history from a secular point of view.

Answer 1

It was sort of an interbreeding of the two powers.

Constantine (whether or not he actually found religion or not) knew that the Church (or what would later be the Church), would have a massive sway on the people. He incorporated it in to his government.

other leaders did the same (See: Holy Roman Emperor), combining faith and politics to hold sway over the masses.

The pope did not replace the emperor per say because the Roman empire had declined centuries before, but they did become beacons for people looking for the guidance that was lost.

Did the Pope try to replace the Emperor? No they just acted as a Proxy leader until true governments were established.

Answer 2

Within a very short time after the fall of Rome in the 5th century AD the Bishops of Rome began calling themselves 'Supreme Pontiff' which was a title that the Western Roman Emperors had used. The popes didn't replace the Emperors for they did not have the amount of temporal power that the emperors had had. However, the Roman Catholic church took over many of the attributes of the Roman Empire. Very hierarchical, fixed in its ways, intensely legalistic. Even the word 'diocese' for the area of a bishop is derived from the Latin for an administrative area.

Answer 3

The Church and the State at times were one and the same. During the Dark ages, the Pope had more power than the emperors. The emperors were usually just powerful generals under the wings of the pope. They had a role similar to presidents.