As a school of thought, ultramontanism in the 19th century denoted the tenets of the declared supporters of papal supremacy, and therefore of clerical supremacy in every sphere, whether religious, political, or social. Formulated in Europe, this ideology was adopted and disseminated in Quebec in the mid 19th century by an influential group of clerics whose activity was supported by a no less influential group of French Canadian laymen. Ultramontanes defended the supremacy of church over state and opposed liberals for more than half a century, which led to a painful battle that reached its climax around 1870.