Gregory VII (pope)
1015 – 1085 Italian Pope (1073-1085)
Reforming pope who forced Emperor Henry IV to wait barefoot at Canossa.
- Religion
- Catholic; Bishop of Rome
- Affiliations
- The papacy
Gregory VII, once the monk Hildebrand, fought the Investiture Controversy, the struggle over whether kings or the pope appointed bishops. He excommunicated Emperor Henry IV, who then stood barefoot in the snow at Canossa in 1077 begging forgiveness. Gregory later fell out with Henry again and died in exile at Salerno, saying, I have loved justice and hated iniquity, therefore I die in exile. His reform program reshaped the medieval Church.
In the timeline
- 1075 Dictatus Papae asserts papal supremacy mentioned
- 1075 The Dictatus Papae sparks the Investiture Controversy mentioned
- 1076 – 1122 The Investiture Controversy begins mentioned
- 1076 Gregory VII excommunicates Henry IV central figure
- 1077 Road to Canossa mentioned
- 1077 Henry IV at Canossa mentioned