Henry and the Pope

Around the last turn of the milleum, the rulers of Germany were locked in a power struggle with Rome. In 1075, Pope Gregory VII demanded that King Henry IV renounce his power over the German church and threatened excommunication to those who supported Hnery. In 1077, as illustrated here by Johannes Koehler, Henry traveled to Italy to do penance and receive absolution from Pope Gregory. Conflicts continued, though, eventually leading to war.