Medieval history isn't my forte, but I had an interesting idea that came to mind. Throughout the middle ages in Italy, the cities gained great power over the expense of the nobility and even the church it seemed, a trend that started following the death of Matilda di Canossa and her willing of her lands to the church. The absence of Imperial authority and their occasional attempts to reassert such power in Italy probably helped as well, as shown in the conflicts between the Guelphs and Ghibellines.
My question is; is it possible for the Pope's temporal power to be limited even earlier? I know the magistrates in Rome had briefly asserted themselves in the 10th century IIRC, but the Emperor quashed it. The city was also pretty independent during the Avignon Papacy. Is there any way for the Pope's temporal power to decline to such an extent where the Papal States exist only in name, with the Pope as a spiritual figurehead while communes in Rome and other larger communities, such as Ancona, fill the power vaccum? Maybe with a weaker Emperor unable to impose any sort of authority on Italy? What sort of effect would this have on Italy, and Europe as a whole, or even the Church? The Pope may seem like a less daunting figure when he has no temporal lands to back up his authority.
My question is; is it possible for the Pope's temporal power to be limited even earlier? I know the magistrates in Rome had briefly asserted themselves in the 10th century IIRC, but the Emperor quashed it. The city was also pretty independent during the Avignon Papacy. Is there any way for the Pope's temporal power to decline to such an extent where the Papal States exist only in name, with the Pope as a spiritual figurehead while communes in Rome and other larger communities, such as Ancona, fill the power vaccum? Maybe with a weaker Emperor unable to impose any sort of authority on Italy? What sort of effect would this have on Italy, and Europe as a whole, or even the Church? The Pope may seem like a less daunting figure when he has no temporal lands to back up his authority.