Editing Pope Gregory VII (section)

===Walk to Canossa===
{{Main|Road to Canossa}}

Henry now faced ruin. As a result of the agitation, which was zealously fostered by the papal legate Bishop [[Altmann of Passau]], the princes met in October at [[Trebur]] to elect a new German ruler. Henry, who was stationed at [[Oppenheim]] on the left bank of the [[Rhine]], was only saved from the loss of his throne by the failure of the assembled princes to agree on his successor.<ref name="EB"/> Their dissension, however, merely postponed the verdict. Henry, they declared, must make reparation and obeisance to Gregory; and if he were still under the ban on the anniversary of his excommunication, his throne should be considered vacant. At the same time invited Gregory to [[Augsburg]] to decide the conflict.<ref name="EB" />

Unable to oppose his princes and the pope together, Henry saw that he must secure absolution from Gregory before the period named. At first he attempted this through an embassy, but when Gregory rejected his overtures he went to Italy in person.<ref name="EB" /> The pope had already left Rome and had informed the German princes that he would expect their escort on 8 January 1077 to [[Mantua]]. This escort had not appeared when he received the news of Henry's arrival at [[Canossa]], where Gregory had taken refuge under the protection of his close ally, [[Matilda of Tuscany]]. Henry had travelled through [[Burgundy (region)|Burgundy]], greeted with enthusiasm by the Lombards, but he resisted the temptation to employ force. In an astonishing turn, the emperor mortified his pride and abased himself in the snow to do penance before the pope. This immediately reversed the moral situation, forcing Gregory to grant Henry absolution. The [[Walk to Canossa]] soon became legendary.<ref name="EB" />

The reconciliation was only effected after prolonged negotiations and definite pledges on the part of Henry, and it was with reluctance that Gregory VII at length gave way, considering the political implications.<ref>[https://storicamente.org/creber-women-canossa A. Creber, ‘Women at Canossa. The Role of Elite Women in the Reconciliation between Pope Gregory VII and Henry IV of Germany (January 1077),’] ''Storicamente'' 13 (2017), article no. 13, pp. 1–44.</ref> If Gregory VII granted absolution, the [[diet (assembly)|diet]] of princes in Augsburg, which had called on him as arbitrator, would be rendered impotent. It was impossible, however, to deny the penitent re-entrance into the Church, and Gregory VII's Christian duty overrode his political interests.<ref name="EB" />

The removal of the ban did not imply a genuine settlement, as there was no mention of the main question between pope and emperor: that of [[investiture]]. A new conflict was inevitable.<ref name="EB" />