The Walk to Canossa
Introduction
The Walk to Canossa (German: Gang nachCanossa) is a famous event in medieval European history. It happened in 1077.This event was about the conflict between Henry IV, the Holy Roman Emperor, and Pope Gregory VII. It shows a time when the Pope and the Emperor were fightingfor power.
Background
Henry IV and Gregory VII disagreed about who should appoint high church officials, such as bishops and abbots. This conflict is called the Investiture Controversy （授职权之争）. The Pope wanted to remove the Emperor's control over these appointments. Henry IV wanted to keep his traditional rights.
The Event
Henry IV defied the church's reform policies and appointed his own bishops. In 1076, Pope Gregory VII excommunicated him, which means the Pope declared that Henry was no longer a member of the church. This also made Henry's throne seem invalid. Henry faced rebellion from nobles and the people. So, he decided to go to Canossa in northern Italy to ask the Pope for forgiveness.
In January 1077, Henry IV waited outside Canossa Castle for three days, dressed in a penitent's simple woolen garment, in the snow. Finally, Pope Gregory VII met Henry and lifted the excommunication. However, their conflict was not completely solved.
Impact
The Walk to Canossa was a key moment in the struggle between the Pope and the Emperor. Although Henry IV received forgiveness, the Pope's authority grew stronger. The Investiture Controversy continued for many years until the Concordat of Worms（《《沃尔姆斯协定》》） in 1122, which reached a compromise.
This event shows the power struggle between the church and the state in medieval Europe. It had a big impact on European history and is still an important topic to study.
