Lanfranc's reforms included reforming the legal role of the Church by making it?

• A. The Church was in charge of the legal system, giving the Church a role in law.
• B. The Church withdrew from the legal system entirely.
• C. Civil law remained completely separate from the Church.
• D. The Church created a separate civil court for merchants.

Answer: (A)

Lanfranc aimed to expand the Church’s authority by bringing more legal matters under ecclesiastical control through church courts and canon law. By reorganizing and strengthening these ecclesiastical institutions, the Church became the main authority for many legal issues, handling disputes and enforcing rules within its jurisdiction. Civil law did not vanish, but it remained distinct from the Church’s domain, which is why the idea of the Church taking charge of the legal system best captures what his reforms achieved. The other options don’t fit because the Church did not withdraw from law, civil law wasn’t kept completely separate in practice, and there’s no record of the Church creating a separate civil court for merchants.