What is investiture?
Q: What is investiture?
A: Investiture means the formal installation of somebody, such as an heir, elect or nominee, in public office by formally giving him the "insignia".
Q: What offices is the term investiture normally reserved for?
A: The term investiture is normally reserved for formal offices of state, aristocracy and church.
Q: What does investiture mean in the Middle Ages?
A: In the Middle Ages, investiture was the ceremonial transfer of a fief by an overlord to a vassal.
Q: What did the lord do in the investiture in feudal times?
A: The lord invested the vassal with a fiefdom, by giving a symbol of the land or office.
Q: How has the term investiture been used in canon law?
A: From feudal times up to the present, the term investiture has been used in canon law to refer to a cleric receiving the symbols of spiritual office, such as the pastoral ring, mitre and staff, signifying transfer of the office.
Q: What is the purpose of giving the "insignia" during investiture?
A: The purpose of giving the "insignia" during investiture is to formally install someone in public office.
Q: Who can be formally installed through investiture?
A: Anyone, such as an heir, elect or nominee, can be formally installed through investiture.
