Heinrich IV/ Henry IV in Canossa

Heinrich IV/ Henry IV in Canossa. In his early papacy, Pope Gregory VII attempted to enact reforms of the investiture process, which met resistance from Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV. Henry VI denounced Gregory as Pope, and in turn was ex- Communicated. Fearing rebellion from the German aristrocracy, Henry arranged to meet with the Pope in Augsburg to have his excommunication lifted. Gregory feared that Henry was planning an attack, and he shut himself up in the fortress of Canossa with Matilda, Countess of Tuscany. Henry took a trip of penitence to Canossa over the Alps, and arrived there on 25 January 1077. He stood in the snow outside the gates of the castle of Canossa for three days, from 25 January to 27 January 1077, begging the pope to rescind the sentence (popularly portrayed as without shoes, taking no food or shelter). HIV: King of the Romans (also referred to as King of the Germans) from 1056 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1084 until his forced abdication in 1105. 11 November 1050-7 August 1106. GVII: Born Hildebrand of Sovana, Pope from 22 April 1073, until his death, c. 1015/1028-25 May 1085).