Walk to Canossa

E72524

Walk to Canossa refers to Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV’s penitential journey to seek absolution from Pope Gregory VII at Canossa in 1077, a dramatic episode symbolizing the struggle between secular and papal authority in medieval Europe.


Statements (47)
Predicate Object
instanceOf historical event
penitential journey
symbol of church–state conflict
documentedIn letters of Gregory VII
medieval chronicles
writings of Lambert of Hersfeld
followedBy renewed conflict between Henry IV and Gregory VII
hasCause conflict over lay investiture
excommunication of Henry IV
struggle between papal and imperial authority
hasConsequence continued political conflict after reconciliation
lasting metaphor in European political discourse
phrase "to go to Canossa" meaning forced submission
hasContext 11th-century papal reform movement
Gregorian Reform
Holy Roman Empire
hasEffect absolution of Henry IV
humiliation of imperial authority
strengthening of papal moral authority
temporary reconciliation between Henry IV and Gregory VII
hasInterpretation example of ritualized political humiliation
victory of papal authority over imperial authority
hasLanguageDesignation English phrase "Walk to Canossa"
German phrase "Gang nach Canossa"
hasLocation Canossa
Canossa Castle
Emilia-Romagna NERFINISHED
Italy
hasNotableFigure Abbot Hugh of Cluny
Matilda of Tuscany
hasParticipant Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Pope Gregory VII
hasTime 1077
January 1077
involvesAction appeal for absolution
penitential pilgrimage
public penance
partOf Investiture Controversy
precededBy excommunication of Henry IV in 1076
relatedTo Concordat of Worms
Dictatus Papae
excommunication in the Catholic Church
symbolizes conflict between spiritual and temporal authority
medieval church–state struggle
submission of secular power to papal power
tookPlaceDuring 11th century
Middle Ages

Referenced by (6)

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