Hello and welcome to the History of the Germans, Episode 102, The Great Divide.

This week we'll hit the arguably most important set of events in medieval German history

often summarized under the banner of the Investigator Controversy.

The Investigator Controversy came about through a confluence of three major strains.

The rise in piety in the wake of improving economic conditions.

The establishment of the papacy is a power separate and superior to temporal ruiners,

and thirdly, the opposition of the German magnates against the centralizing tendency of the Empress, led

by the Saxons. And it's the latter part of this episode focuses on. If you are interested

in the whole story, episodes 30 to 42 give you an overarching story. I actually listen to them again,

and I'm a little bit proud of what I've done there. But that's enough self-aggrandization.

Let's find out what happened with the Saxons.

But before we start, just let me tell you that the History of the Germans podcast is advertising free,

thanks to the generous support from patrons,

and you can become a patron too and enjoy exclusive bonus episodes

and other privileges from the price of a latte per month.

All you have to do is sign up at patreon.com slash history of the Germans or on my website,

historyof the Germans.com. You find all the links in the show notes. And thanks a lot to

Justin K, Margaret G, Ragnold S and Regina who've already signed up.

We pick up the story where we left it in Episode 100.

The Saxon leaders had surrendered to Henry 4th on October 25, 1075.

Henry's soldiers were raiding and murdering up and down the duchy in revenge for the destruction of the Hartsburg and the desecration

of the imperial graves. After the battle on the Unstrut, Henry IV had the opportunity to show

...