Page:The history of medieval Europe.djvu/338

 290 THE HISTORY OF MEDIEVAL EUROPE; , ordered Henry to refrain entirely from the exercise of his polit ical functions until he had been released from the papa excommunication. Such a release must be secured withir a year and a day or his crown would be forfeited. The> invited the pope to visit Germany the next spring and arbitrate their grievances against Henry. Henry saw that the time had come for another submis- sion. He crossed the Alps in the depth of winter and met Gregory on his way north at the castle of the pope's friend, the Countess Matilda of Tuscany at Canossa. By his penitent attitude, standing, one source says, for three days barefoot in the snow, Henry practically forced the reluctant pontiff to raise the ban of excommuni cation. Outwardly the scene appeared a great humiliatioi for Henry, but it was not a very substantial triumph fo; Gregory. Henry had satisfied public opinion by his appar ent reconciliation with the pope, and when the great lord: ignored it and elected another king in his place, they failec to receive general support. Henry in his government hac shown regard for the welfare of the common people and the? saw no reason for disloyalty, now that he had apparenth made his peace with the Church. The real objection of th great nobles and the pope to Henry was not that he was bad and incompetent ruler, but that he was exerting to- much influence in spheres which they regarded as their owr. Gregory hardly knew what attitude to take betwee Henry and the rival whom the princes had raised agains Exile and nnT1 - He tried to arbitrate between them and a Gregoi^ a resuIt alienated both parties. Finally, in io8( when Henry threatened to set up an anti-pop unless Gregory excommunicated his rival, Gregory came t a decision and again excommunicated and deposed Henrj The German bishops thereupon held various synods, pr< ferred more charges against Gregory, deposed him, an named in his stead the Archbishop of Ravenna, a good an learned man. Henry's rival was slain in battle and Henr proceeded to attack Rome. Many of the cardinals deserte Gregory, and in 1084 Henry won the citv and was at la