ABSTRACT

As Burchard surveyed the existing books of Church law soon after the year 1000, he was concerned that none did what he wanted them to accomplish. This chapter explains Burchard's background, education, episcopate, and his concerns. Burchard was born in Hesse in the mid tenth century, into a noble, well-connected family, from which two sons went on to become members of the imperial inner circle and bishops of Worms. Burchard also took a practical interest in interpreting the Bible properly and in teaching others to do so because he saw it as part of his reforms. He was passionately interested in ensuring that those under his authority conformed their behavior to God's law. Burchard wore two hats, as bishop and as temporal ruler of Worms. As bishop, Burchard wanted to establish a proper body of rules to govern the people under his care – churchmen, parishioners and members of his familia.