Synopses & Reviews
This is the first book in English devoted to the German king and emperor Henry IV (1056 1106), whose reign was one of the most momentous in German history and a turning-point in the history of the medieval empire (the kingdoms of Germany, Italy and Burgundy). The reign was marked by continuous rebellions and fluctuating fortune. Earlier monarchs had also witnessed conflict between crown and aristocracy, but Henry IVâs reign differed in that his conflicts could never be definitively resolved either by negotiation or by war. During the 1070s the young king gained a lasting reputation for tyranny, while his assertion of the crownâs traditional rights over the imperial church aroused papal opposition. The alliance between the German princes and the papacy haunted Henry IV for the rest of his life. He meanwhile, by turns opportunist and compromiser, dedicated himself at all times to preserving the traditional rights of the monarchy.
Synopsis
'A study of the reign of the German king and emperor Henry IV (1056 1106).'
Table of Contents
Introduction; 1. The young king, 1056 1075; 2. The conflict with Pope Gregory VII; 3. Emperor Henry IV, 1084 1106; Conclusion.