HENRY IV & THE EVENTS OF CANOSSA
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The events of Canossa show the struggle for ultimate authority – the king or the
pope. The year was 1076AD.
Henry IV of Germany the Emperor of the Hoy Roman Empire with his palace in
Speyer had ordained a bishop.
Pope Gregory VII (formerly Hildebrand) had enforced the celibacy of the priests
and now found his greatest struggle against lay investiture – the choosing of
bishops etc were chosen by non-clergy often kings.
If Gregory VII could enforce investiture only by the church, he would become the
universal ruler in all kingdoms.
Gregory VII promptly excommunicated Henry IV and released his vassals and
subjects from all allegiance to Henry.
Henry was just 21 years of age took his most trusted soldiers and left Germany
for Italy.
Henry IV’s aunt was Mathilda of Canossa. Having been widowed she had
inherited the Castle of Canossa – situated about 32 km southwest of Reggio Nell’
Emilia and the same distance southeast of Parma in northern Italy.
Pope Gregory VII heard of Henry IV’s travels and made directly for the
mountaintop fortress of Canossa locking the gates and waiting for Henry’s arrival.
It was wintertime and Henry and his party was forced to wait in the snow,
muttering his deep apologies and seeking forgiveness. Henry donned sackcloth
and was humiliated, waiting in the snow for three days – in public view of Gregory
VII, Mathilda and the others inside the castle.
Finally Gregory was admitted and having said the necessary words of regret and
apology was granted pardon and re-instated as Emperor of the Holy Roman
Empire after swearing allegiance to the pope.
Henry IV returned to Germany and put down any small rebellion due to his
excommunication and resumed his rule.
Eight years late in 1084 Henry IV returned to Italy with his army, entering Rome
by the Porta Asarinia (The Donkey’s Gate) near the Basilica of St. John Lateran.
Pope Gregory VII knowing he was the target of Henry’s wrath fled southwards
into the mountains near Salerno.
Gregory died there in exile in 1085 and is buried in the Cathedral of St. Matteo in
Salerno on the right hand side of the main altar.
On Henry IV’s death his son Henry V wanted to have him buried in consecrated
ground – part of the Speyer cathedral. Having been seen as the one who sacked
Rome in 1084 this was not possible until due reparations had been paid.
Henry IV was first buried by the sidewall of the Cathedral in Speyer but later
moved to the crypt with others in his dynasty.
This issue and conflict while flaring again paved the way for the supremacy of the
Papacy which perhaps reached its zenith in the 13th century as the universal
ruler.