We then continue with our account of the Investiture Complaint that we started in our previous article the medieval church faces the Holy Roman German Empire. After the dad will publish the Dictatus Papaes, Henry IV did not give rise to such regulations, following its policy of appointing the bishops in the imperial territory. In response, Gregory VII threatened him with excommunication (expulsion from the Christian Church).
But emperorwith the support of many opposing German prelates, demanded that the dad that he resign Given this, a council determined that he be excommunicated Henry IV and those who supported him, and dismissed him as kingfreeing his subjects from obeying him.
In a very compromised political position, Henry IV decide to get from dad the acquittal. People say that Gregory VII did not receive him for three days, in which the emperor I wait humbly, barefoot and wrapped in a simple blanket. The dad he forgave him, even though this was a way to strengthen his opponent’s power. This historical event is remembered as the Humiliation of Canossa.
But the trouble didn’t end there. Gregory VII Y Henry IV they continued their dispute until the death of the former. Others Potatoes succeeded each other in office and the Empire was inherited by Henry V. Until 1122 there were numerous confrontations that included battles, excommunications and a terrible looting of the city Rome.
Finally signed the Concordat of Wormsan agreement between Empire and the Holy See. It stipulated that it corresponded to the Church the investment clerical and consecration with religious orders. In contrast to emperor was reserved for him feudal investiturethe typical contract vassalage. After more than fifty years, the Investiture Complaint. In them the Church demonstrated his enormous power in the political sphere, about to put in check the power of a Empire.
More information
Investiture Complaint on Wikipedia
Medieval Church, in
Image:
The emperor henry iv in front of Pope Gregory VII in canossa. (Painting by Carlo Emanuelle, c.1630.). on Wikipedia