papal legates to areas outside the Roman dioceses. With the support of the local secular authorities, these papal legates were able to appoint and depose bishops. In some cases, they were even able to divide or merge dioceses. Still, the papal legates had to persuade people that they had the jurisdictional authority to support these actions. Peter Damian helped to formulate the rhetoric the reformers needed. He disarmed his opponents by admitting that the various rights, privileges, and ranks of