A system where a single ruler holds both political and religious authority, combining Caesar (political power) and Pope (religious power) under one person.
From Caesar + papacy (the office of the Pope). Coined in the 19th century to describe Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine systems where emperors controlled both church and state.
Byzantine emperors would literally appoint and fire religious leaders, turning the Hagia Sophia into a tool of state power—'caesaropapacy' captures this uncomfortable marriage of politics and religion that persists in many modern theocracies.
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