The Walk to Canossa: Henry IV and the Investiture Controversy

The History of Germany: Kingdoms, War, and Rebuilding Europe — Fexingo History · Jul 30, 2026 · 7m · transcript

In January 1077, King Henry IV of Germany stood barefoot in the snow outside the castle of Canossa, waiting for Pope Gregory VII to lift his excommunication. This episode of The History of Germany dives into the Investiture Controversy, the defining power struggle between Church and state in medieval Europe. We explore how the reform-minded Pope Gregory VII (formerly Hildebrand) challenged the centuries-old practice of lay investiture—where rulers appointed bishops—and how Henry IV's defiance led to a dramatic showdown. The walk to Canossa is just the beginning: we follow the ensuing…