Final answer:
The consequence of the investiture contest was a reduction in papal influence over church appointments and increased autonomy and influence for local princes within the Holy Roman Empire, leading to a more decentralized political structure.
Step-by-step explanation:
The investiture contest was a significant conflict between the Church and secular authorities over the appointment of church officials. In the investiture contest, one of its outcomes was a weakening of the pope's influence over church officials and greater autonomy and power for the princes in the Holy Roman Empire. This event represented a shift in the balance of power within the Empire, as secular leaders lost their influence over the church, and it resulted in the strengthening of local rulers, also known as princes, within the Empire's territories.
During the contest, the struggle for the right to appoint bishops, known as investiture, brought about significant changes. It was not merely a battle for appointment rights but also a statement against simony, the selling of church offices. One of the main players, Pope Gregory VII, challenged the existing policy by excommunicating Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV, leading to a strengthening of the papal position at the end of the conflict. These dynamics resulted in a decentralized Holy Roman Empire with a patchwork of semi-autonomous principalities, each with its own ruler and agenda, which further complicated the political structure of the Empire. This decentralization was a direct effect of the investiture conflict.