Why did Emperor Henry IV walk over the Alps to meet the Pope in 1077?

[@HistoryMarche]

🚩 Go to bit.ly/thld_cs_historymarche and use code HISTORYMARCHE to save 25% off today. Thanks to Curiosity Stream for sponsoring today’s video. 🚩 Ever since it happened people have been debating what took place at Canossa. Some have called it a brilliant masterstroke by Emperor Henry IV, while others have termed it his humiliation. The events leading up to January 28, 1077 are considered one of the most dramatic moments of the Middle Ages, and perhaps the most murky when it comes to understanding what really took place at this Italian castle.

[@HistoryfortheAges]

I remember very specifically being taught at first that it was the humiliation of Henry IV, but yes as I started to teach the material myself I did see another aspect to it. I still lean more towards Henry IV was on the losing end of this. I just shared this video on my community page for my channel.

[@lionheartnarruhn7696]

Please can you do a video when the papacy lost its power over the ruling class. I haven't seen any on KZbin. Love this channel.

[@Cowslippoetry]

Turn 24: Emperor Heinrich of the HRE has been exommunicated. Turn 25: The Pope has called a Holy Crusade on the city of Nuremburg. Turn 26: the following factions are now at war with each other: Kingdom of England ---> Holy Roman Empire Kingdom of France ----> Holy Roman Empire Kingdom of Leon and Castille ----> Holy Roman Empire Kingdom of Portugal ----> Holy Roman Empire Kingdom of Aragon ----> Holy Roman Empire Kingdom of Scotland ----> Holy Roman Empire Kingdom of Denmark ----> Holy Roman Empire Kingdom of Norway ----> Holy Roman Empire The Papal States ----> Holy Roman Empire Republic of Venice ----> Holy Roman Empire Republic of Genoa ----> Holy Roman Empire Republic of Pisa ----> Holy Roman Empire Kingdom of Poland ----> Holy Roman Empire Kingdom of Hungary ----> Holy Roman Empire The true Medieval 2 experience.

[@doubledouble4g379]

Was thinking the same thing: 'Huh, is this why the Emperor of the HRE almost always gets excommunicated in my M2:TW playthroughs?' Seems to happen a fair bit in CK2 as well.

[@LUC1ANOS]

Turn 27 Rome is besieged Turn 28 pope is dead > papal election

[@theunfortunategeneral]

Urgh.... Tell me about it...

[@HistoryfortheAges]

The Church state conflicts in the Middle Ages are always so fascinating. Funny story, I had a former student who was from a country in Europe. He said that there is an expression used by his friend that "he needed to do a Canossa" To beg forgiveness from his wife. lol I cover a lot of this as well on my channel in more basic lecture style survey course format. Key words, images, maps. Love your channel. I still recommend your videos to my students!

[@nicoladonelli7121]

I don't know where your student came from, but in Italy we do say "andare a Canossa" (translation "to go to Canossa") to describe a humiliating submission to someone else, for example a cheater that cries in front a girlfriend/boyfrind to take them back would be a situation of "going to Canossa".

[@HistoryfortheAges]

@@nicoladonelli7121 He as actually from Denmark. I just think it is cool the expression has roots from an event nearly 1000 years ago! Thank you for given me the exact words in Italy. I can use that in my class!

[@nicoladonelli7121]

@@HistoryfortheAges absolutely, it is really cool. We have others with some historical events. Many I cannot remember, but we also say "è successo un 48" (a 48 happened) when a huge mess happens, its a reference to the 1848, a year where in all Europe there were uprising. It basically means "it's a mess" or "it was a mess".

[@HistoryfortheAges]

@@nicoladonelli7121 on my channel I make some shorts about historical word origins. Like draconian, and others. You may enjoy them!

[@gesuntight]

In german it's the same, if you have to ask someone for forgiveness or are called to your teacher because you messed up etc. you say you have to do a 'walk to Canossa' (Gang nach Canossa)

[@slyzr5914]

Fun fact in Germany there still exists the expression "Den Gang nach Canossa antreten" which basically translates to "Begin the walk to Canossa", it can be used when you have to do something which is not easy for you like truly and deeply apologizing for example (who would have thought). To be fair the expression is extremly rare and nearly nobody uses it but i still like the idea of it still being around. Similar like "crossing the rubicon" or "alea iacta est" which is even older.

[@clucasism]

proud of you for this comment

[@UCannotDefeatMyShmeat]

i like those bits in these where you can hear the recordings stitched together

[@BeWe1510]

How the life of Henry IV was not yet picked up by a major movie production is beyond me. After the early death of his father, his mother who was easily taken advantage of became his regent. Horrified by her handling of the imperial affairs and by the prospect of Henry IV adopting the authoritarian style of his father some nobles decided to act, they planned to abduct him, take the regency in their own hands and forge him into a king of their liking. When they were at the royal court they lured him on a boat, like a classic child predator, to bring him to Cologne. Henrys mother realized way to late what was going on but Henry eventually did and tried to escape but because he could not swim he nearly drowned, having his life saved only narrowly by one of the abductors. While in the hands of the princes he had to watch them enriching themselves on the cost of the empire until he became of age. Then there was the whole Canossa saga, explained in the video, after which he still had to fight the remaining rebells who wanted to place the duke of Swabia on the throne. In the decisive battle the duke allegedly but probably not really lost his oath-hand with which he once swore loyalty to Henry. But even when this was dealt with and pope Gregory was deposed Henry could not catch a breath because it was his sons turn to rebell now. The princes mediated and father and son seemingly had an emotional reconciliation after which his son proposed to seek shelter in a castle. There Henry was immediately arrested and forced to hand the imperial regalia to his son, shortly after the princes forced him to formally abdicate in favor of his son. He eventually escaped captivity and tried to fight for the throne, which was going pretty well actually but he got sick before he could get a decisive victory and died shortly after, forgiving his son on his deathbed. I mean what a life am I right?

[@thetrollslayer3716]

Don't let phonywood ruin a good story from history.

[@runningskunkchess9795]

@@thetrollslayer3716 ya that's for sure

[@pax6833]

Damn that is some cool ass shit

[@johnkai3359]

Fredrick the II probably even more amazing and not told for the same reason: Its very anti-religion!

[@stefanthiem6630]

It did not end with the end of his life: He was still banned when he died. First he was entombed in Liege, but then dug out (on protest of some major nobles of the HRE) and put in a small chapel. Henry V took him some time later to Speyer, where all the salian emperors are entombed, but the local bishop refused to entomb him. So his sarcophagus was put into some side room in the Cathedral. Only 5 years later he received a final burial worth of a HRE emperror.

[@StoicHistorian]

If only he had brought elephants with him like Hannibal, that would’ve shown that silly pope what bishops he could appoint

[@Medievalists]

We are really happy to be working with HistoryMarche and see are our articles turned into amazing videos!

[@Mukspsychosis]

Me: mom, can we have Hannibal's crossing of the alps? Mom: no we have Hannibal's crossing of the Alps at home. *Hannibal's crossing of the alps at home:*

[@Mukspsychosis]

Great content btw

[@AGS363]

In case you're curious, the Investiture Controversy was settled in 1122. The Concordat of Worms stipulated that the bishops were elected by the cathedral chapter, in the presence of imperial deputies with the right to intervene. The emperor then appoints the elected person as a wordly power, the pope as a spiritual one.

[@blugaledoh2669]

What about imperial or papal election?

[@marcobelli6856]

@@blugaledoh2669papal is 100% in the hands of the Church and imperial is dynastic so no election I think

[@metalpsyche82]

Really a brilliant idea to cover an episode like that. Indeed, I think that this channel should focus more on "nuggets" of history as well

[@KHK001]

Always great to see more of your video! Thanks HM!

[@AfaqueAhmed_]

Gregory :- I excommunicate you . Henry :- Sorry . Gregory :- Alright , just don't do it again . 3 years later Gregory :- I excommunicate you . Henry :- F*Ck you Gregory :- This means war .

[@kalebloshbough3661]

Catholicism is satan made religion

[@FlashPointHx]

This almost sounds like the beginning of a joke. =)

[@mustipunyaemail]

Why the king cross the alps?

[@FlashPointHx]

@@mustipunyaemail To get to the other side!

[@Reignor99]

Knock knock! Who's there? Excommunication. Excommunication who?

[@slugmanantonio]

Me, a CK3 player: Heinrich IV walked all the way to Canossa to make progress with his seduction scheme on Matilda of Tuscany.

[@Spaglettie_]

Thank you for introducing me to this channel - really enjoying these videos!

[@HistoryMarche]

Thanks so much :) Enjoyed the stream last night very much!

[@Spaglettie_]

@@HistoryMarche appreciate you 🙌🏽

[@dansmith4077]

For the algorithm.

[@Mr.Fridaynight]

For the algorithm

[@is......]

For the algorithm

[@novomute4281]

For the algorithm

[@jannestiemes4328]

For the algorithm

[@QoStoOds]

For the horde! Oh, shoot. *Closes WoW*. For the algorithm!

[@howsnoah9192]

history marche is slowly taking upper hand over other history channels

[@nenenindonu]

So many history videos today :0 As if all history channels had agreed on making this day a HistorySaturday

[@user-rd3jw7pv7i]

Please never change. I absolutely love your content.

[@jonathancurran5366]

"Be assured we will not go to Canossa bodily or spiritually". Otto Von Bismarck.

[@hostiliscivitas]

Best history channel!

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

That fight really continues to this day… nothing really changed there.

[@GamerBoy-bf9li]

I can just imagine Matilda with the most smug look on her face after the Holy Roman Emperor, her liege, humiliated himself in HER castle

[@hughzehzelleise7166]

This and the contrition of Henry II of England is honestly one of my favorite events of the Middle Ages

[@petrskupa6292]

Fascinating! Thank You!

[@robbabcock_]

Wonderful video as always!

[@HistoryMarche]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@clovismerovech6537]

Another great edition, thank you! Keep up the good work.

[@ComboMuster]

Such outstanding channel! 560k subs? that is a shame. I want to add that we are but faint shadows of our ancestors... how did we degenerate to such extent? how did we lose such energy and passion? how did we lose so much for as many useless trinkets? are we any different today from wild populations of past, of newly discovered lands, that sold their family and kin for a few colored glass beads?

[@maxschreck4095]

Very cool episode, would have liked maybe more of an interpretation of the events after summarizing them.

[@vuxigeck5281]

That is such a wild title. Man, I love history.

[@سعدالزهراني-ج3ت]

Very beautiful and wonderful content.. and a very crazy narration of the battle.. We want to see the battle of Constantinople with the young leader Muhammad Al-Fateh, please

[@juanpa0181]

Amazing video.

[@johnlansing2902]

Thank you !

[@davidpreisner]

This theme of the combining of Church and State is an important one to understand.

[@alfaroukahmed7080]

Thanks for Great videos, and big thanks for translation ❤👏🏼

[@Samuel-lf4ul]

Pray for us Saint Gregory VII!

[@Ncladus]

Henry IV, You either love him or hate him from the dephts of hell.

[@Nozylatten]

Great video!!

[@TheLastSoundNL]

Having played Crusader Kings, having a bishop with below 10 learning and also seeks to undermine you is bullshit, especially for an emperor.

[@shotx333]

6:24 what is background music?

[@jamshedfbc]

Wonderfully presented.

[@Thraim.]

In Germany we talk about this in history class a lot. A very important moment when the balance of power between the Kaiser and the Pope is completely tipped over in favour of the Pope.

[@johnkai3359]

? how could you skip over STUPOR MUNDI, Fredrick II

[@claytonporter7878]

Interesting information

[@HellenicWolf]

great video, thanks

[@VonGoldfinger]

If God ever sends another set of rules written in stone it will only be fitting that this narrator is the only one allowed to read it out loud.

[@harrysmith1711]

A fascinating chapter of history placed under an expert lens HistoryMarche. It just goes to show that for both parties, simply saying 'sorry' is never enough If I may, while she is only touched upon here, the life and exploits of Matilda of Tuscany, The Great Countess, make her worthy of her own explorative video which I am certain I, and many if not all of your viewers, would love to see

[@derprofessor150]

Wonderfull to see more of the HRR

[@Akane19791]

Thanks!👍

[@dand7763]

yes, medieval time , when the Church rules in Europe! Amen!

[@Fuzzypotato2]

Funny how the church literally brought on the dark age.

[@jowydon7512]

@@Fuzzypotato2 no, it didn't

[@darkmatter515]

@@Fuzzypotato2 you mean the middle age?

[@baldwinjerusalem5962]

@@Fuzzypotato2 go cry 😂

[@bryanguzik]

"I bind him with excommunication". Purely fun speculation, but I wonder if wording like that could be where writers dive-in to create the "language" of witchcraft. That would be awesome irony.

[@gronndar]

Gonna play Medieval 2 and Henry will march over the alps with imperial army and lay siege to rome. Men of the cloth should not meddle with the affairs of king.

[@JawsOfHistory]

Feel like Pope Francis should draw and history and really needs to step up his shit talking letters to world leaders.

[@parasite4187]

Battle of Varna next

[@brokenbridge6316]

Seems like this German Emperor's life is worthy of a movie. One day.

[@manushudson1940]

sorry to ask but do you know when the next ottoman and Christian video will be out thanks love the channel

[@HistoryMarche]

Week or two

[@ModernandVintageWatches]

very informative

[@magimon91834]

What a fascinating period of history

[@spasjt]

In case anyone forgot or doesn't know, lay investiture was a way for secular rulers to gain influence over church affairs by trying to appoint the weak minded, easily intimidated, or power hungry clergymen to secular positions of authority. It began after the terrible collapse of the Roman Empire because the church was the only coherent organization spanning its old territories that held any sort of influence on the general populace and few remaining officials and was able to put educated men to help alleviate serious issues quickly. Despite this, it became a source of greed, and was so commonly abused done by the time Pope Gregory IX accepted the papacy. He recognized that it was directly putting the interests of secular authority over the divinely given authority of the Church. Pope Gregory had seen what such division was causing in the world and even within the Papacy itself during the so called "year of three popes" in which each "pope" gave titles to other bishops or secular lords to increase their standing, only for it all to eventually blow up in their faces anyway. Still, those three men claimed the authority of the papacy and it took a secular leader, and his military forces to force a peaceable sit down and election of a new pope. Regardless, the whole affair sowed division in medieval Europe for centuries after. Also, while it sadly did not last, this walk was not a "masterstroke" for no arrogant man would put himself through such an incredibly brutal journey and then _walk in a blizzard for three days during one of the harshest winters in years _*_without any footwear_* because of his desire for power. No person, however deft or cunning would put himself through such ordeal, his pride and subsequent frame of mind would prevent him. Any arrogant or power hungry man would have simply ignored the Pope's excommunication early when his supporters were still in greater numbers, by raising an army and attacking Italy, which, prior to this, he was close to doing anyway (and still wound up doing). This is likely why the Pope made him wait outside for three days, to see if his repentance was genuine. His right to kingship was, as his own people and even princes made perfectly clear, (prior to some changing their minds later and dragging all into civil war anyway...) based on his journey to God through the Church and not merely by saying his right to rule supersedes the right of the Church to admonish rulers for leading others down a sinful path by their example. Nevertheless, in the eyes of the world these events remain murky because the world, moreso today than in the past, cannot fathom the reality of what took place. Henry's lack of supporters in the year that followed his excommunication, was a reality check that his people, "men both low and high, rich and poor alike," held God dearer than their fealty to a man, even if that man was an emperor. As I said alluded to their refusal to keep him as their Emperor may have been equally convenient politically for some as it was about the state of his soul affecting his salvation. However those few staunch opposers weeded themselves out in the months following his repentance. Sadly, evil is always at work and clearly slipped back into his old ways and the journey was for nought and took most of the German kingdom with him. But just because a person has a change of heart later, it does not automatically mean that what was done earlier in life had ulterior motives.

[@a.b.b35]

how can you excommunicate a person who is already excommunicated? :D

[@JC-mx9su]

battle of mezokeresztes part 3 is going to be interesting.

[@trooper_w1413]

Insteresting Video once again. May I ask wich Software do you use to animate the Videos?

[@feral7523]

Caeser is still my favourite Pontiff.

[@oskary8730]

Love it 👍🏻🤙

[@josebasilioconcepcion4377]

Henry was the central figure of what would become a long struggle between the Papacy and the Holy Roman Empire for the temporal control of Europe.

[@sniper21223]

A sacrifice to the algorithm!

[@YeeeeGreg]

Cause I love this channel and I want the algorithm to love it too!

[@juansgalt]

The pen is mightier than the sword.

[@jessepyles3916]

i know im late to the party but whats the musoc at the beginning of the video

[@craigkdillon]

As a child in Chicago, I was educated in Catholic grammar school through 8th grade. I was taught a very good history from the POV of the Church. From the persecution of the Christians in Roman arenas, through the conversion of Constantine, the saving of Rome from Atilla, the Council of Nicaea, the Great Schism, the Dark Ages and the saving of civilization by Irish monks, etc.etc. One of the stories was the penance of King Henry and how he crawled on bloody knees through the winter snow to Pope, where his suffering and repentance earned his welcome back into the Church. For a grade school education, the teaching of history was quite good -- if a bit one-sided. Mohammed was the Anti-Christ, for instance. El Cid was such a heroic figure, I wondered why he wasn't a saint. This episode reminded me of that education, and how it served me well later. From it, I knew the general layout of European history, from Christ to Napoleon. I wonder if kids in grade school today get such good understanding of history.

[@khabibnurmagomedov8581]

What, Muhammad was a anti Christ? , what does that mean.

[@craigkdillon]

@@khabibnurmagomedov8581 You don't know what the anti-Christ is?

[@abdulrahimibrahim7359]

@@khabibnurmagomedov8581 mean al massih aldjal

[@raeesshah257]

Guys please release Hannibal parts more frequently

[@sadem1811]

اروع قناة تاريخية

[@gordonhulcombe9604]

A intriguing storey!

[@aarondemiri486]

Wonder how Henry ii of England and Henry iv of the HRE would say of each others act of penance.

[@PROVOCATEURSK]

Having a petty human as a messenger means the god is pretty weak and evil.

[@NocturnalPyro]

Wait the man crossed the alps on my birthday.

[@d1a9m9i1lare]

I can see references to the Eyrie from GOT

[@vectorstrike]

Could one say that the Investiture Controversy was one of the main reasons the HRE never centralized?

[@blugaledoh2669]

Partially. The HRE had several time where they could have centralized. The Hohenstaufen were probably the last dynasty that had any chance of centralization. You could argue Charles V also had that opportunity but religious division ended any hope.

[@Sealdeam]

In part but the relative weakness of the highest ruler was ingrained into it pretty much since the get go as it was an institution that directly descended from Charlemagne's empire with its tradition of powerful and semi-independent regional rulers that only were kept in check by a poweful and enegetic ruler which most of the following Carolingians were not thus allowing generations of further degradation of the central power. East Francia eventually elected a non-Carolingian which in theory would not be a full-powered autocrat but a first among equals and the princes of these part were extremely protective of their prerrogatives and even during some of the most powerful monarchs' reign princely or ducal rebellions were not rare and this was even before the whole Investiture issue was a thing.

[@eljanrimsa5843]

the main reason was the Alps

[@vectorstrike]

@@eljanrimsa5843 Regarding Italy, yes. But what about Germany and the Low Countries?

[@eljanrimsa5843]

@@vectorstrike I don't know if you are aware of it but the HRE had a huge area covering what is now Northern Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, and the Western part of the Czech Republic. How do you centralize all of this? The struggle with the Pope was the main theme for centuries of wars in Italy. North of the Alps the Pope not so much. The Pope had less influence there, but the mighty princes had. At different times different power centers evolved, and the Emperor was usually only as strong as he would be without being Emperor due to his family.

[@slibertas1996]

Letting priests marry is good. Forbidding marriage is bad.

[@bielefeldd]

for the algorithm!

[@exoendo]

Fucking CRIMINAL this video has only 45k views. This was awesome

[@CreatureDomain]

Could you do Hannibal videos? I Like Them.

[@samwill7259]

Having a pope be elected by proclamation makes me wonder if that's still possible within the legal outline of the catholic church and the holy see. Though at that point the issue would be that the Vatican is a nation in itself and it has no permanent population that aren't already members of the Papal government so would the people of Rome still hold the power to "proclaim" someone pope in 2022?

[@cordasuenaviolin604]

Answering to your question, yes, Vatican City is an independent state and therefore issues passports but the election of a pope by proclamation is out of the question since the pope has been elected for centuries by the College of Cardinals. Therefore it would be impossiblefor the people of Rome to proclaim a pope without straying into heresy, as that "so called"pope would not count

[@eljanrimsa5843]

@@cordasuenaviolin604 The Romans could claim they were told by God to do so.

[@bryanguzik]

Unless they've omitted something quite important here, I'm not how a "debate" could remain. Honestly, I'm not being smug. Kings require (enough) nobles to be on board. Taking that into account, along with Henry's behavior during his little post-absolutuon party, and that's the story. Grovel or fall. No?

[@rahman9749]

Please accept my comment as a tribute to the KZbin algorithm, may this channel flourish and long live to enlighten us history enthusiast!

[@jls0037cslewis1]

Christ and his Word are absolutely true, but this story of political use of biblical authority is a disgusting example of earthly wickedness.

[@ابنعباد-ذ6و]

We want a clip about an invasion Jabal Uhud

[@IudiciumInfernalum]

Nothing against The Church but the separation of powers was definitely a good idea.

[@rexchiliae]

No

[@ItsGroundhogDay]

Looks like in the sequel, Henry got his revenge.

[@gavank4525]

Tribute to the gods of algorithm

[@frederickrohrbacher8606]

One year after the Battle of Hastings.

[@hanssteiner4315]

11 years you mean?

[@PaulH1600]

The map is inaccurate. It tries to depict "Normandy" and "Brittany" as some kind of separate entities, when both were duchies part of the kingdom of France. Like the powerful duchy of Aquitaine, or the county of Flanders, for example.

[@taylororion7604]

The Duchy of Brittany was a sovereign state which sometimes owed allegiance, but not vassalage, to the French throne. This lasted until the 1500s. During the period shown in the video, that being the aftermath of the Norman Conquest of England, it was actually the English crown which attempted to seize control of Brittany. And speaking of the Norman conquest, King William of England and his successors theoretically owed fealty to the French throne as Dukes of Normandy, but this was rarely observed. In practice, Normandy was a semi-sovereign vassal of the English crown.

[@taylororion7604]

Also, during the height of its power, the Duchy of Aquitaine owed fealty to England, not France.

[@PaulH1600]

@@taylororion7604 You are all over the place. The map is set in 1077, not during the Hundred Years' War. The Bretons had then been under Frankish authority since the Carolingian Empire, with the Normans originally tasked by Charles the Simple to keep them in check. And it was precisely in 1077 that Philip I led the troops sent by his vassals (including the duke of Aquitaine) into Brittany to defend it against the encroachment of the duke of Normandy. The same duke who eight years later would in turn seek the help of royal troops to ward off the Danes from his kingdom of England. There's no better instances of feudal dependence than military assistance. As for the rest of your unhistorical word salad, respectfully, try making it less obvious that you learn history from KZbin and Wikipedia.

[@yaserahmed4829]

Imagine having to repent to a human being! {وَما قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدرِهِ وَالأَرضُ جَميعًا قَبضَتُهُ يَومَ القِيامَةِ وَالسَّماواتُ مَطوِيّاتٌ بِيَمينِهِ سُبحانَهُ وَتَعالى عَمّا يُشرِكونَ} (67) They have not appraised Allāh with true appraisal, while the earth entirely will be [within] His grip on the Day of Resurrection, and the heavens will be folded in His right hand. Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him.

[@bosbanon3452]

So Priest can married before Pope Gregory the seven ? Why don't that prohibition seen as heresy

[@nthnymartucci]

brilliant

[@akhtaruzzamanjoy8524]

Make a video on Ottoman history.... View will be 1million

[@reinoldi1097]

Can Somebody tell me why he is called Henry here? German King, with a german Name:"Heinrich "

[@MarfSantangelo]

It's just because the channel speaks English, so some names from historical figures and places get translated. My mother language is Portuguese and we do this a lot as well, it's nothing special, really.

[@koshyjeffrey57]

For the alg

[@josecipriano3048]

It's so sad to see a Holy Roman Emperor licking the boots of a cult leader just to keep his throne.

[@raskeshades208]

For the boys