Gregory VII
Hildebrand, pope from 1073. He claimed for the papacy the power to depose kings, forbade the investiture of bishops by laymen, twice excommunicated Henry IV, and died at Salerno.
Gregory said of himself that he had taken holy orders unwillingly, had gone beyond the mountains with his master Gregory, had come back to Rome with Pope Leo, and had been set on the papal throne against his will (Gregory VII, Register 7.14a). Henry IV (emperor), breaking with him in 1076, addressed him by his own name, Hildebrand, and charged him with having gained the office by money and force (Henry IV, Letters, to Hildebrand (1076)).
His register holds the list of papal prerogatives known as the Dictatus papae (Gregory VII, Register 2.55a), the decree of 1078 against investiture by laymen (Gregory VII, Register 6.5b, c. 3) and his own account of the absolution of Henry at Canossa (Gregory VII, Register 4.12). Bernold of Constance, an admirer, records that he died at Salerno on 25 May 1085, after twelve years and one month as pope, and was buried there in the church of St Matthew (Bernold of Constance, Chronicle 1085 (p. 444)).
In the timeline
- 1075 to 1077, firm dateThe Investiture Controversy and Canossa
Pope Gregory VII and King Henry IV of Germany break over the appointment of bishops. Deposed and excommunicated in 1076, Henry comes as a barefoot penitent to the castle of Canossa in January 1077 and is absolved. The conflict goes on.
Primary sources
Register of Gregory VII
- Gregory VII, Register 7.14aavalon.law.yale.edu
- Gregory VII, Register 2.55aavalon.law.yale.edu
- Gregory VII, Register 6.5b, c. 3avalon.law.yale.edu
- Gregory VII, Register 4.12avalon.law.yale.edu
Letters of Henry IV
- Henry IV, Letters, to Hildebrand (1076)avalon.law.yale.edu