Hello and welcome to the history of the Germans, Episode 35, to Rome, to Rome.

Today we will look at what went on with Gregory the 7 after Henry had left to fight his rivals in Germany.

Spoiler alert, things will not turn out the way the Pope had hoped.

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When Henry IV left Pope Gregory in Canossa in January 1078, Gregory thought he had won

the ultimate victory, and Henry would from now on be an obedient son of the church.

And that should give him room to look after his other ambitions, namely to bring the King of France to heal and to cash in on support he had given to William the Conquer,

you know, the guy who invaded England whilst Henry was fighting to establish his personal rule in 1066.

Let's start with the Conqueror.

Gregory had ensured that William had the full support of the papacy and even received

the papal banner to be carried into battle. His objective was to gain control over the English

church. And William, it seemed delivered, at least initially. He removed the existing

Anglo-Saxon bishops wholesale and replaced them with reform-minded Norman clergyman.

His new Archbishop of Canterbury, Lan Frank, was a man of international standing, originally

...