Heinrich VON SALIAN

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Medieval Lands by Charles Cawley, Foundation for Medieval Genealogy HEINRICH, son of HEINRICH III King of Germany [Emperor HEINRICH II] &his second wife Agnes de Poitou ([Goslar] 11 Nov 1050-Liège 7 Aug1106, bur Speyer Cathedral). The Annalista Saxo records the birth of"Heinrico inperatori filius quartus Heinricus"[405]. He was installedas HEINRICH VIII Duke of Bavaria 1053-1054. His father crowned himassociate king of Germany at Aachen 17 Jul 1054. He succeeded hisfather in 1056 as HEINRICH IV King of Germany, under the regency ofhis mother until 1062 when she resigned after Heinrich was kidnappedby Anno [II] Archbishop of Köln, who continued as regent until theking was declared of age 29 Mar 1065[406]. King Heinrich faced manydifficulties with his nobility. He deprived Otto von Northeim of theduchy of Bavaria in 1070 after accusing him of an assassination plot.He imprisoned Magnus Billung Duke in Saxony, who had supported Ottovon Northeim. He also lost the support of Rudolf von Rheinfelden Dukeof Swabia, Berthold Duke of Carinthia and Welf IV Duke of Bavaria, whowere said to have considered deposing him. King Heinrich waseventually forced to leave his fortress of Harzburg and seekprotection in Worms, for which he rewarded the town with specialprivileges in 1074[407]. Under the peace of Gerstungen in early Feb1074, he was obliged to demolish his castles, except Harzburg althoughthe latter was stormed by Saxon peasantry and destroyed[408].Difficulties with the papacy centred around the dispute about layinvestiture in Germany. After King Heinrich's accession, the right ofpatricius to cast the first vote in papal elections was largelyignored, resulting in declining German influence in the selection ofnew Popes. Matters came to a head when the king sent Pope Gregory VIIan accusatory letter, issued by the assembly at Worms held 21 Jan1076. The Pope, in response, deposed and excommunicated the king, whowas forced into obedience. King Heinrich crossed the Alps into Italywith his family and appeared in Jan 1077 as a penitent before thecastle of Canossa, in which the Pope had taken refuge, and forced areconciliation. The German princes, affronted by the withdrawal ofthe excommunication, elected Rudolf von Rheinfelden as rival king ofGermany at Forcheim in Feb 1077[409]. The Pope repeated hisexcommunication order in 1080, and declared support for theanti-king[410]. King Heinrich responded by having Archbishop Wibertof Ravenna elected as Pope Clement III in Brixen in Jun 1080, andeventually bringing the rival pope to Rome for his enthronement atEaster 1084, after which Heinrich was crowned Emperor HEINRICH III 31Mar 1084[411]. In the deepening dispute between Church and empire,Emperor Heinrich enjoyed temporary success against Matilda Ctss ofTuscany, one of the Pope's most ardent supporters, and defeated hertroops at Tresenta in 1091[412]. However, the emperor was leftwithout political support and was obliged to remain confined in acastle near Verona to avoid capture[413]. He returned to Germany in1097 after six years campaigning in Italy, and recovered some of hispolitical power after reconciling himself with the Welf and Zähringenfamilies. He held an assembly at Mainz in 1098 to regulate thesuccession, declaring his older son deposed and nominating his youngerson as his successor[414]. In 1102, Pope Paschal II renewed theexcommunication against the emperor who largely ignored the move. Ata general assembly in Mainz in 1103, the emperor proclaimed a fouryear peace for the empire, but in 1105 his son Heinrich rebelledagainst him, captured his father, forced him to hand over the royalinsignia, and held him semi-prisoner at Ingelheim. The youngerHeinrich declared himself sole king of Germany at an assembly in Mainzin early 1106. His father, however, escaped and rallied his forcesaround Liège, where he defeated his son's army[415]. The victory wasshort-lived as Emperor Heinrich III died soon after. The GestaFriderici of Otto of Freising records his death at Liège and burial atSpeyer[416]. The necrology of Prüm records the death "1106 7 Id Aug"of "Heinricus imperator filius Heinrici imperator"[417]. The AnnalesSpirenses record his burial at Speyer[418]. m firstly (betrothal Zürich 25 Dec 1055, Tribur[419] 13 Jul 1066)BERTHE de Savoie, daughter of ODDON Comte de Chablais, Marchese diSusa & his wife Adelaida Marchese di Susa (21 Sep 1051-Mainz 27 Dec1087, bur Speyer Cathedral[420]). The Annalista Saxo names "Bertamfiliam Ottonis marchionis de Italia et Adelheidis que soror eratcomitis qui agnominatus est de Monte Bardonis in Italia et Immule seuIrmingardis" as wife of King Heinrich[421]. Her husband proposed torepudiate her in 1069, but withdrew his demand[422]. The dispute wasnot finally settled until 1077 when Empress Bertha's mother intervenedto prevent any repudiation in return for mediating between the emperorand Pope Gregory VII in Canossa[423]. The Annales Sancti Diibodirecord the death in 1087 of "Bertha imperatrix" and her burial "apudMoguntiam"[424]. The necrology of Regensburg St Emmeran records thedeath "VI Kal Jan" of "Berhta imperatrix"[425]. The necrology ofSpeyer records the death "VI Kal Jan" of "Bertha imperatrix"[426]. m secondly (14 Aug 1089, divorced 1095) as her second husband,IEVPRAXIA Vsevolodovna of Kiev, widow of HEINRICH III Graf von StadeMarkgraf der Nordmark, daughter of VSEVOLOD Iaroslavich Grand Princeof Kiev & his second wife Anna of the Kumans ([1071]-1 Aug or 11 Nov1109). The Annalista Saxo names "Eupracciam filiam regis Ruscie quiin nostra lingua vocobatur Adelheid, quam postea duxit Heinricusimperator" as wife of "Heinricus marchio"[427]. She was known asADELHEID in Germany. Contemporary chroniclers were scandalised by thealleged sexual abuses inflicted on his second wife by Emperor HeinrichIII. According to Helmold of Bossau Chronica Slavorum, King Heinrich"had made a public prostitute of his wife, subjecting her by force tothe lust of other men". The emperor imprisoned his wife at Verona,from where she was released in 1094 by Matilda Ctss of Tuscany. TheChronicon of Bernold records that "Praxedis reginæ" made complaintsabout her treatment "inauditas fornicationum spurcicias" to the synodof Konstanz in 1094 and that her separation was agreed in 1095 at thesame synod[428]. The Annales Sancti Diibodi gives lengthy detailsconcerning her divorce[429]. The divorce is recorded in AnnalistaSaxo under 1094[430]. The empress publicly denounced her husband atthe council of Piacenza, presided over by Pope Urban II from 1 Mar1095[431]. She became a nun at Kiev in 1095. The Primary Chroniclerecords that Ievpraxia daughter of Vsevolod took the veil 6 Dec1106[432], and the death 10 Jul 1109 of Ievpraxia daughter of Vsevolodand her burial place[433]. Emperor Heinrich III & his first wife had [six] children: 1. ADELHEID (1070-4 Jun before 1079, bur Speyer cathedral).The Chronicle of Burchard von Ursberg specifies that "Hainricus IIII"had two daughters by his wife Bertha but does not name them[434]."Heinricus…Romanorum imperator augustus" confirmed the possessions andrights of Speyer cathedral by charter dated 10 Apr 1101, listing pastdonations including one "pro anima filie nostre Adhelheith inSpirensis cripta sepulta"[435]. "Heinricus…Romanorum imperatoraugustus" donated property "Rotenuels in pago Uffgouwe in comitatuVorcheim Herimanni comitis" to Speyer cathedral by charter dated 15Feb 1102 "pro animarum…fratris nostre Cunradi, filieque nostreAdelheidis et filii nostri Heinrici"[436]. 2. HEINRICH (1/2 Aug 1071-Harzburg 2 Aug 1071)."Heinricus…Romanorum imperator augustus" donated property "Rotenuelsin pago Uffgouwe in comitatu Vorcheim Herimanni comitis" to Speyercathedral by charter dated 15 Feb 1102 "pro animarum…fratris nostreCunradi, filieque nostre Adelheidis et filii nostri Heinrici"[437]. 3. AGNES ([Summer 1072/early 1073]-24 Sep 1143, burKlosterneuburg). The Gesta Friderici of Otto of Freising records themarriage of "filiam unicam" of King Heinrich III and "Fridericus duxSuevorum", naming her Agnes in a later passage[438]. In a subsequentpassage, the Gesta records the second marriage of Agnes to "LeopaldoOrientali marchioni"[439]. The Continuatio Claustroneoburgensisrecords the marriage of "Liupoldus marchio Austrie" and "Agnetemimperatoris Heinrici IV filiam", specifying that the couple had sevenchildren who died in infancy and eleven who survived into adulthood,six sons and five daughters[440]. The marriage presumably took placeearly in the year if it is correct, as stated by Haverkamp, that itwas arranged by Agnes's brother, the future Emperor Heinrich IV, toobtain her future husband's support for his rebellion against theirfather[441]. The Auctarium Mellicense records that Agnes, wife of"Leopoldus marchio", gave birth to 18 children[442]. The AnnalesMagdeburgenses record the death in 1143 of "Agnes marchionissa materCuonradi regis"[443]. The necrology of Nonnberg records the death"VIII Kal Oct" of "Agnes marchionissa"[444]. The necrology of KlosterNeuburg records the death "VIII Kal Oct" of "Agnes marchionissafundatrix h e"[445]. m firstly (betrothed Regensburg 24 Mar 1079)FRIEDRICH I Duke of Swabia, son of FRIEDRICH von Büren & his wifeHildegard ([1050]-1105 before 21 Jul). m secondly ([early] 1106) ashis second wife, LEOPOLD III "der Heilige" Markgraf of Austria, son ofLIUTPOLD II Markgraf of Austria & his wife Ida [von Ratelberg]([1075]-killed while hunting 15 Nov 1136, bur Stift Klosterneuburg(-15 Sep 1136, bur Klosterneuburg). 4. KONRAD (12 Feb 1074-Florence 27 Jul 1101, bur Florence).He was installed as KONRAD Duke of Lower Lotharingia by his father in1076, on the death of Godefroi III "le Bossu" Duke of LowerLotharingia, with Albert III Comte de Namur as vice-duke[446]. Hisfather crowned him associate king of Germany at Aachen 30 May 1087, atwhich time the duchy of Lower Lotharingia was conferred on Godefroi deBouillon [Boulogne]. He rebelled against his father in 1093 andallied himself with Pope Urban II and Matilda di Canossa. He wascrowned king of Italy in Milan by Archbishop Anselm, although he isalso referred to as king of Lombardy[447]. His father excluded himfrom the succession in 1098, and declared him deposed[448], althoughby that time Emperor Heinrich had returned to Germany and appears tohave had little influence on affairs in Italy. The Annales SanctiDiibodi record the death in 1101 of "Cuonradus filius imperatoris" inItaly and his burial "in civitate Florentia"[449]. m (Pisa 1095)CONSTANZA of Sicily, daughter of ROGER I Count of Sicily & [his secondwife Eremburge de Mortain] (-after Jul 1101). The Chronicon ofBernold records the marriage in 1095 "in Tusciam Pisas" of "Chonradusrex" and "filiam Rogerii ducis de Sicilia, adhuc admodum parvulum cuminaudita pecunia" but does not name the bride[450]. Malaterra recordsthe marriage in 1095 in Pisa of "Corradum…Henrici filium" and "filiamSiculorum Calabriensium comite" but also does not name her[451].Houben says "we think the bride was called Maximilla" but cites nosource to support this[452]. The primary source which names her hasnot yet been identified. She returned to southern Italy after herhusband's death. 5. [MATHILDE . Morkinskinna records that Magnus III King ofNorway “was much smitten” with “the emperor´s daughter…with whom hehad exchanged messages…Matilda”[453]. No other reference to thisalleged daughter has been found.] 6. HEINRICH (1086-Utrecht 23 May 1125, bur Speyer cathedral).The Annalista Saxo records the birth in 1081 of "Heinrico regi filiusiunior"[454]. His father declared him as his successor in 1098 atMainz[455]. Heinrich was elected associate king of Germany at Mainz10 May 1098, crowned at Aachen 6 Jan 1099. In 1105, Heinrich brokewith his father who was taken prisoner and forced to hand over theroyal insignia at Ingelheim. Regarding this as an abdication,Heinrich had himself declared sole King of Germany at an assembly inMainz in early Jan 1106. His father escaped and rallied his forcesaround Liège, where the younger Heinrich's army was defeated[456].Heinrich's father died shortly after, and the younger Heinrichsucceeded in 1106 as HEINRICH V King of Germany. King Heinrichclashed immediately with the papacy by persisting in the practice oflay investiture. During the course of negotiations to settle theissue, Heinrich left for Italy, spending time in Lombardy to rebuildthe machinery of imperial government, and agreed a compromise withPope Paschal II who agreed to crown him emperor 12 Feb 1111. Theceremony was halted by disputes over the settlement agreement,Heinrich imprisoned the Pope and his cardinals, and forced a newagreement at Ponte Mammolo near Tivoli 4 Apr 1111 under which theright to investiture was conceded in the absence of simony. On thisbasis Heinrich was crowned Emperor HEINRICH IV at Rome 13 Apr1111[457]. Emperor Heinrich was obliged to intervene in Saxony whereDuke Lothar von Süpplingenburg strengthened his power base. Althoughthe duke submitted to the emperor in 1114, the imperial army wasdefeated by the Saxons at Welfesholz in 1115[458]. After the death ofMatilda Ctss of Tuscany in 1116, Emperor Heinrich left for Italy toclaim her inheritance but was forced into long negotiations with thepapacy which reopened the question of lay investiture. The processconcluded with the Concordat of Worms 23 Sep 1122 under which EmperorHeinrich renounced the use of spiritual symbols in lay investiture,promised canonical elections and free consecration, but was accordedthe right to be present at elections of bishops and abbots inGermany[459]. Emperor Heinrich probably died of cancer[460]. TheAnnales Spirenses record his burial at Speyer[461]. m (betrothedUtrecht Easter 1110[462], Mainz 7 Jan 1114) as her first husband,MATILDA of England, daughter of HENRY I King of England & his firstwife Eadgyth [Matilda] of Scotland (Winchester or London Feb/Aug1102-Abbaye de Notre-Dame des Près, near Rouen 10 Sep 1167, bur Abbayede Bec, Normandy, later moved to Rouen Cathedral). Her parentage isstated by Orderic Vitalis[463]. Florence of Worcester records that"rex Anglorum filiam suam" was betrothed to "Heinrico regiTeutonicorum" in [1110], and the marriage "VIII Id Jan" at Mainz in[1114] of "Heinrico Romanorum imperatori" and "Matildis filia regisAnglorum Heinrici", and her coronation as empress the same day[464].She was crowned empress again in 1117 with her husband at St Peter’sBasilica, Rome. She married secondly (Le Mans Cathedral, Anjou 3Apr/22 May/17 Jun 1128) Geoffroy “le Bel/Plantagenet” d’Anjou, whosucceeded in 1129 as Geoffroy V Comte d'Anjou. She assumed the title“Lady of the English” in her fight against King Stephen, but wasfinally defeated 1 Nov 1141. Robert of Torigny records the death"1167…IV Id Sep Rothomagi" of "matris suæ [Henrici regis] Mathildisimperatricis" and her burial "Becci"[465]. The necrology of AngersCathedral records the death "II Id Sep" of "Mathildis imperatrix filiaHenrici regis uxor Goffredi comitis"[466]. Mistress (1): ---. Thename of the mistress of Emperor Heinrich V is not known. EmperorHeinrich V had one illegitimate daughter by Mistress (1): a) BERTHA . The Chronica Mon. Casinensis names "Bertam filiamsuam [=imperator]" wife of "Ptolomeo illustrissimo, Octavia stirpeprogenitor, Ptlomei magnificentissimi consulis Romanorum filio" whenrecording their marriage in 1117 during her father's visit toRome[467]. m (1117) as his first wife, TOLOMEO [II] di Tuscolo, sonof TOLOMEO [I] Conte di Tuscolo & his wife --- (-25 Feb 1153). Hesucceeded his father in 1126 as Conte di Tuscolo. [406] Fuhrmann (1995), p. 57. [407] Fuhrmann (1995), p. 78. [408] Fuhrmann (1995), pp. 62-3, and Haverkamp, A. (1988) MedievalGermany 1056-1273 (Oxford University Press), p. 111. [409] Fuhrmann (1995), pp. 63-6. [410] Fuhrmann (1995), p. 67. [411] Fuhrmann (1995), p. 68. [412] Runciman, S. (1978) A History of the Crusades (Penguin Books),Vol. 1, p. 101. [413] Fuhrmann (1995), p. 69. [414] Fuhrmann (1995), p. 85. [415] Fuhrmann (1995), p. 86. [416] Gesta Friderici Imperatoris Ottonis Frisingensis I.10, MGH SSXX, p. 358. [417] Annales Necrologici Prumienses, MGH SS XIII, p. 219. [418] Annales Spirenses, MGH SS XVII, p. 83. [419] Annalista Saxo 1067. [420] Annalista Saxo 1088. [421] Annalista Saxo 1067. [422] Fuhrmann (1995), p. 61. [423] Marie José (1956), p. 33. [424] Annales Diibodi 1087, MGH SS XVI, p. 9. [425] Necrologium Monasterii S Emmerammi Ratisbonensis, RegensburgNecrologies, p. 301. [426] Kalendarium Necrologicum Canonicorum Spirensium, p. 327. [427] Annalista Saxo 1082. [428] Bernoldi Chronicon 1094 and 1095, MGH SS V, pp. 458 and 462. [429] Annales Diibodi 1087, MGH SS XVI, p. 14. [430] Annalista Saxo 1894. [431] Poull (1994), pp. 57-8. [432] Cross, S. H. and Sherbowitz-Wetzor, O. P. (trans. & eds.) (1973)The Russian Primary Chronicle, Laurentian Text (Cambridge,Massachusetts) (“PC”), 1106, p. 203. [433] Russian Primary Chronicle 1108, p. 204. [434] Die Chronik des Propstes Burchard von Ursberg, MGH SS in usumScholarum (Hannover, 1916), p. 7. [435] D H IV 466, p. 629. [436] D H IV 474, p. 644. [437] D H IV 474, p. 644. [438] Gesta Friderici Imperatoris Ottonis Frisingensis I. 8 and 9, MGHSS XX, pp. 357 and 358. [439] Gesta Friderici Imperatoris Ottonis Frisingensis I.10, MGH SSXX, p. 358. [440] Continuatio Claustroneoburgensis I 1106, MGH SS IX, p. 610. [441] Haverkamp (1988), p. 125. [442] Auctarium Mellicense 1106, MGH SS IX, p. 536. [443] Annales Magdeburgenses 1143 6, MGH SS XVI, p. 187. [444] Monumenta Necrologica Monasterii S Erentrudis Nonnbergensis,Salzburg Necrologies, p. 61. [445] Monumenta Necrologica Claustroneoburgensis, Passau Necrologies(II), p. 3. [446] Murray (2000), p. 20. [447] Poull (1994), pp. 57 and 59. [448] Fuhrmann (1995), p. 85. [449] Annales Diibodi 1101, MGH SS XVI, p. 19. [450] Bernoldi Chronicon 1095, MGH SS V, p. 463. [451] Pontiari, E. (ed.) (1927-8) De rebus gestis Rogerii Calabriæ etSiciliæ comitis et Roberti Guiscardi ducis fratris eius, RerumItalicarum Scriptores, nuova ed. v. (Bologna), 5.1, IV.23, p. 101. [452] Houben, H. (trans. Loud, G. H. & Milburn, D.) Roger II ofSicily, A Ruler between East and West (Cambridge University Press2002), p. 23. [453] Andersson, T. M. and Gade, K. E. (trans.) (2000) Morkinskinna(Cornell), 58, p. 307. [454] Annalista Saxo 1081. [455] Fuhrmann (1995), p. 85. [456] Fuhrmann (1995), p. 86. [457] Fuhrmann (1995), pp. 88-9. [458] Fuhrmann (1995), pp. 89-90. [459] Fuhrmann (1995), pp. 90-3. [460] Fuhrmann (1995), p. 94. [461] Annales Spirenses, MGH SS XVII, p. 83. [462] Delisle, L. (ed.) (1872) Chronique de Robert de Torigni, abbé deMont-Saint-Michel (Rouen), Book VIII, c. 7, and Chibnall, p. 17. [463] Orderic Vitalis, Vol. V, Book X, p. 299. [464] Thorpe, B. (ed.) (1849) Florentii Wigorniensis MonachiChronicon, Tomus II (London), pp. 60 and 67. [465] Chronique de Robert de Torigny I, 1167, p. 367. [466] Urseau, C. (ed.) Obituaire de la cathédrale d'Angers, Documentshistoriques sur l'Anjou Tome VII (Angers). [467] Petri Diaconi, Chronica Monasterii Casinensis IV.61, MGH SS VII,p. 791. Catholic Encycopedia, Henry IV Biography German King and Roman Emperor, son of Henry III and Agnes of Poitou,b. at Goslar, 11 November, 1050; d. at Liège, 7 August, 1108. Thepower and resources of the empire left behind by Conrad II, whichHenry III had already materially weakened, were still further impairedby the feebleness of the queen regent, who was devoid of politicalability. The policy of Henry III, which had been chiefly directed toChurch affairs, had already called forth the opposition of theprinces. But now, under the regency, which continued the same policy,the hostility between the ecclesiastical and temporal nobles came to aclimax on the kidnapping of the king from Kaiserswert (1062). Theregency passed into the hands of the princes after the seizure of theboy-king. At the outset Archbishop Anno of Cologne had charge of thegovernment of the empire and supervised the education of the royalchild. But he was soon compelled to accept the energetic Adalbert,Archbishop of Bremen, as a colleague. The boy's whole heart went outto the joyous, splendour-loving Archbishop of Bremen. That prelate wasnow de facto the real ruler of Germany. He returned with vigoroussteps to the deserted paths of Conrad II's policy and attempted, notin vain, to restore the empire's prestige, particularly in the East.At the Diet of Tribur this masterful prelate fell a victim to thejealous hostility of the princes (1066). It now appeared that theyoung king was quite able to satisfy his violent craving forindependence; and he determined to carry out the policy of Adalbert. Henry IV's real political independence did not begin until 1070. Whenhe seized the reins of government, thanks to the energetic rule ofAdalbert, the condition of the empire was no worse than at the deathof Henry III. But, meantime, the papacy had been entirely emancipatedfrom the imperial power, and the German Church, on which Otto theGreat had built up his power, had become more closely united to Romeand ceased to be a constitutional state church. Consequently, thoughthis did not appear immediately, the foundations of the Othoniansystem were undermined. Strong and energetic popes had appeared on thescene and found allies. On the one hand the powers of Lorraine andTuscany offered a valuable support to the papacy in Central Italy.Here Beatrice of Tuscany had contracted a matrimonial alliance withthe unruly Duke Godfrey of Lorraine. On the other hand Hildebrand'sadmirable conciliatory policy had likewise gained allies in thesouthern half of the peninsula among the Normans. And finally the highChurch party did not lack friends even in Northern Italy. The Patariaof Milan, a democratic movement that combined an economic with anecclesiastical reform agitation, was won over by Hildebrand to thecause of the Papal See. This policy inaugurated by Hildebrand had already indicated oppositionto the empire. It is true that one the German side there was areaction against violations of the legal status prevailing in papalelections and other affairs: but definiteness of aim and enduringvigour were on the side of the reform party and its masterfulspokesman Hildebrand, who, as Gregory VII, was soon to come forward asthe young king's opponent. (See CONFLICT OF INVESTITURES.) Hatred andpassion distorted the portraits of both these men in contemporaryhistory. Even today we can see only faint outlines of these two men,the central figures of a tragedy of world-wide historical import. Weknow that Henry IV had a good literary education, but that hisliterary and artistic interests were not profound and were not, as inthe case of his father, submerged in unpractical idealism. He was aconscious realist. He failed altogether to understand thepolitico-religious aims of his father's policy. Some of hiscontemporaries disparaged his moral character, with some justiceperhaps, but certainly with much exaggeration. Of course his naturewas passionate: that is probably the reason he never in his whole lifeacquired a refined harmony of character. At times he was plunged inthe depths of despair, but he always reacted against the most seriousdisasters, overcame the worst fits of despondency and was ready torenew the combat. He was also a clever, though perhaps not always anhonest diplomat. This hapless king was truly the idol of his peoplebecause of his pride as a ruler, his earnest defence of the dignity ofthe empire and his benevolent care for the peace of the empire and thewelfare of the common people. Henry had no sooner become independent than he reverted to theprinciples that governed the policy of Conrad II. He also founded hismilitary power on the ministerials, the lower nobility. Theseministerials were to counterbalance the power of the spiritual andtemporal princes, the latter of whom, however, were beginning toachieve territorial independence and to establish within the State apower that could not be overestimated. With his usual hopefulnessHenry expected to be able to crush them: he believed that he could atleast revive the power of Conrad II. Henry's strong hand first madeitself felt in Bavaria. Otto von Northeim lost his duchy and importantpossessions in Saxony besides. The king bestowed the duchy on GuelphIV, son of Azzo of Este. We now see at once how well considered wasHenry's policy; for from the Saxon lands of Otto von Northeim hesought to create a well rounded personal domain which was to providean economic basis for his royal power. This personal domain he soughtto protect by means of royal fortresses. But to the ever restlessSaxons, whose ancient rights the king had indubitably violated in theconsolidation of his landed possessions, these fortresses might wellappear so many threats to their liberties. Soon, not only in Saxony,but elsewhere throughout the empire, the particularist princes rose tooppose the vigorous centralizing policy of the emperor. The situationassumed a dangerous aspect. Henry's diplomatic skill was now shown.Through the mediation of the spiritual princes the Treaty ofGerstungen (1074) was effected, by which, on the one hand, the king'spossessions were left intact, while, on the other, the insurgentssecured the dismantling of the royal fortresses and the restoration ofall their rights. But soon the revolt broke out anew and was notsubdued until Henry's victory at the Unstrut (1075), which resulted inthe overthrow of Saxony. Henry seemed to have attained all hisdesires. In truth, however, the particularist forces had onlywithdrawn for the moment and were awaiting a favourable opportunity tobreak the chains which fettered their independence. The opportunitysoon came. In 1073 Hildebrand had ascended the papal throne as Gregory VII. The"greatest ecclesiastical statesman", as von Ranke calls him, directedhis attacks against the traditional right of the German kings toparticipate in the filling of vacant sees. At the Lenten synod of 1075in Rome he forbade investiture by laymen. The bishops were to ceasebeing dependents of the Crown and become materially the dependents ofthe papacy. That foreboded a death-blow to the existing constitutionof the empire. The bishops of the empire were also the most importantofficials of the empire: the imperial church domains were also thechief source of income of the emperor. It was a question of life anddeath for the German Crown to retain its ancient influence over thebishops. A bitter conflict between the two powers began. A synod atWorms (1076) deposed Gregory. Bishops and king again found theirinterests threatened by the papacy. Gregory's answer to Henry's actionwas to excommunicate him at the Lenten synod of the same year. For theparticularist powers this was the signal of revolt. At Tribur Henry'sopponents formed an alliance. Here the final decision in Henry's casewas left to the pope, and a resolution was passed that if Henry werenot freed from excommunication within a year he should forfeit theempire. At this critical juncture, Henry decided on a surprising step.He submitted himself to solemn ecclesiastical penance and thus forcedGregory as a priest to free him from excommunication (1077). By doing so Gregory in no wise gave up his design of making himselfthe arbiter of Germany. In Gregory's opinion Henry's penance couldonly postpone but not prevent this arbitration. Henry was satisfiedonce more to set his feet on solid ground. But the German princes nowbroke out into open revolution. They set Rudolph of Rheinfelden up asa rival king. With his difficulties, however, Henry's ability grewmore apparent. He had recourse to his superior resources as adiplomatist. In his struggle with the pope, who took the side of theGerman princes, he made use of the opposition within the Church inItaly against the hierarchical aims of the Curia; in his dispute withthe princes and their rival king Henry looked for support to theloyalty of the masses, who honoured him as the preserver of order andpeace. After several years of civil war, Rudolph lost his throne andhis life at Mölsen in 1080. By his death the opposition in Germanylost their leader. In Italy also affairs took a more favourable turnfor Henry. It is true that in 1080 the pope had excommunicated Henryanew, but the ban did not make the same impression as before. Henryretorted by setting up Guibert of Ravenna, who proclaimed himselfantipope under the title of Clement III. The growing opposition withinthe Church aided Henry on his journey to Rome in 1081. From 1081 to1084 he went four times to the Eternal City. Finally his antipope wasable to crown him in St. Peter's. Soon after the pope was liberated byhis Norman allies and escorted to Salerno, where he died, 25 May,1085. The struggle was continued under Gregory's second successor, Urban II,who was determined to follow in Gregory's footsteps. Germany wassuffering from the horrors of civil war, and the great masses of thepeople still supported their king, who in 1085 proclaimed the Truce ofGod for the whole empire. By means of skilful negotiation he nowsucceeded in winning over the greater part of the Saxons, to whom herestored their ancient rights. On the other hand the ranks of thebishops loyal to the king had been thinned out by the clever andenergetic policy of the pope. Moreover a new and dangerous coalitionwas formed in Italy when the seventeen-year old Guelph married Matildaof Tuscany who had reached the age of forty. Henry's efforts to breakup this alliance were successful at first; but at this point his sonConrad deserted him. The latter had himself crowned in Milan andformed alliances with the pope and with the Guelph-Tuscan party. Thishad a paralysing effect on the emperor, who passed the year 1094inactive in Italy, while the pope became the leader of the West, inthe First Crusade. Fortunately for Henry's interests the youngerGuelph now dissolved his marriage with Matilda, and the elder Guelphmade his peace with the king once more. The latter was now able toreturn to Germany and compel his enemies to recognize him. His sonHenry was elected king in 1098. Henry sought to restore order once more, even to the point ofproclaiming general peace throughout the empire (1103). This policy ofpacification benefited the great mass of the people and the rapidlygrowing cities and was directed against the disorderly lay nobility.Perhaps this may have induced the newly chosen young king to take uparms in rebellion against his father. Perhaps he wished to make sureof the sympathies of this nobility. At all events the younger Henrygathered a host of malcontents around his banner in Bavaria in 1104.Supported by the pope, to whom he swore obedience, he betook himselfto Saxony, where he soon reawakened the traditional dissatisfaction.No humiliation was spared the prematurely aging emperor, who was keptprisoner in Böckelheim by his intriguing son and compelled toabdicate, while only those elements on whom he had always relied,particularly the growing cities, stood by him. Once more the emperorsucceeded in gathering troops around his standard at Liège. But justas his son was drawing near at the head of an army Henry died. Aftersome opposition his adherents buried him in Speyer. In him perished aman of great importance on whom, however, fortune frowned. Still hisachievements considered from the point of view of their historicalimportance, were by no means insignificant. As defender of the rightsof the Crown and of the honour of the empire, he saved the monarchyfrom a premature end, menaced though it was by the universal disorder.

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Titel	Familienstammbaum Engelken
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Hochgeladen	2014-12-22 06:03:51.0
Einsender	Roger Engelken
E-Mail	rengelken@msn.com
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