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  • 1056-1105 : King of Italy
  • 1056-1105 : King of Burgundy
  • 1056-1105 : King of Germany
  • 1084-1105 : Holy Roman Emperor
  • Major figure of The Investiture Controversy
  • Salian dynasty
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Wikipedia

Heinrich IV Salian of the Holy Roman Empire, Duke of Bavaria, King of Burgundy, King of Italy, King of the Romans, Holy Roman Emperor, was born 11 November 1050 in Imperial Palace of Goslar, Goslar, Lower Saxony, Germany to Heinrich III of the Holy Roman Empire (1017-1056) and Agnes of Poitou (c1025-1077) and died 7 August 1106 Liege of unspecified causes. He married Bertha de Savoie (1051-1087) 1066 JL . He married Eupraxia of Kiev (1071-1109) 27 December 1087 JL .

Biography

Henry IV, also known as Henry of Germany, was a prominent figure in European history during the 11th century. He was born on November 11, 1050, in Goslar, Germany, and reigned as the Holy Roman Emperor from 1084 until his death on August 7, 1106. Henry IV played a crucial role in the Investiture Controversy, a conflict between the papacy and the Holy Roman Empire over the appointment of bishops and other church officials.

Henry IV was the son of Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor, and Agnes of Poitou. He inherited the throne at the age of six when his father passed away in 1056. Due to his young age, a regency was established, and Henry's mother and a group of advisors governed the empire until he came of age.

The Investiture Controversy, which shaped Henry IV's reign, emerged from the conflict between the German monarchs and the papacy over the appointment of bishops and investiture with ecclesiastical offices. Pope Gregory VII, a reformist pope, aimed to free the Church from secular influence and asserted papal authority over the appointment of bishops. However, Henry IV resisted this papal interference and sought to maintain his power to appoint and invest bishops, as it provided him with significant political influence.

In 1075, Pope Gregory VII issued the Dictatus Papae, a set of decrees that challenged the emperor's authority and asserted the pope's superiority in both spiritual and temporal matters. This declaration intensified the conflict between Henry IV and the papacy. The tensions reached their peak when Henry appointed an archbishop of Milan in defiance of the papal prohibition. In response, Pope Gregory VII excommunicated Henry IV in 1076, releasing his subjects from their allegiance to him.

To secure his position and regain the support of the German princes, Henry IV undertook a remarkable journey to Canossa in 1077. In what became known as the "Walk to Canossa," Henry traveled to the castle where Pope Gregory VII was staying and sought absolution. He endured three days of waiting in the snow before the pope finally lifted the excommunication. While this act restored Henry's position within the empire, the underlying conflict persisted.

The Investiture Controversy continued to escalate, and a schism arose within the Church, with rival popes being elected by different factions. Henry IV appointed an antipope, Clement III, to challenge the authority of Pope Gregory VII. The conflict extended beyond Germany, influencing various regions of Europe.

In 1084, Henry IV was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Clement III in Rome. This coronation was seen as a direct challenge to Pope Gregory VII, who had supported Henry's rival for the imperial throne. The political situation remained complex, with shifting alliances and power struggles between the emperor and the papacy.

Henry IV faced internal challenges as well, including rebellions by German princes who opposed his rule. These uprisings were often fueled by dissatisfaction with Henry's policies and his attempts to centralize power. The most significant opposition came from his son, Henry V, who rebelled against his father and forced him to abdicate in 1105. Henry IV died the following year, on August 7, 1106, in Liège, Belgium.

Despite the controversies and challenges he faced during his reign, Henry IV made lasting contributions to the Holy Roman Empire. He expanded and consolidated imperial authority in several regions, including Saxony and Bavaria. Additionally, his conflicts with the papacy helped shape the balance of power between church and state in medieval Europe.

Family Life

1st Marriage : Bertha of Turin

Married to Bertha de Savoie (1051-1087) (1066). Bertha of Turin was the daughter of Count Otto of Savoy. She married Henry IV in 1066 when she was only 12 years old. The marriage was primarily a political alliance aimed at strengthening ties between the Holy Roman Empire and the Italian nobility. Bertha and Henry had three children together: a) Agnes of Germany (1072-1143): Agnes married Frederick I, Duke of Swabia, and later Conrad III, who became the Holy Roman Emperor. b) Conrad (1074-1101): Conrad was designated as his father's successor and was crowned King of Italy in 1093. However, he predeceased his father, dying at a young age. c) Henry V (1081-1125): Henry V succeeded his father as the Holy Roman Emperor and continued the conflicts with the papacy.


  1. Adelheid of the Holy Roman Empire (1070-1079) - died young
  2. Heinrich of the Holy Roman Empire (1071-1071) - died as infant
  3. Agnes of the Holy Roman Empire (c1072-1143) - Agnes married Frederick I, Duke of Swabia, and later Conrad III, who became the Holy Roman Emperor.
  4. Konrad of the Holy Roman Empire (1074-1101) - Conrad was designated as his father's successor and was crowned King of Italy in 1093. However, he predeceased his father, dying at a young age.
  5. Heinrich V of the Holy Roman Empire (1086-1125) - Henry V succeeded his father as the Holy Roman Emperor and continued the conflicts with the papacy.

2nd Marriage:

Married 2nd to Eupraxia of Kiev (1071-1109) (1089). Eupraxia of Kiev, also known as Adelheid of Kiev, was the daughter of Grand Prince Vsevolod I of Kiev. She married Henry IV in 1089, following the death of Bertha. Henry's second wife, Eupraxia (known as Adelaide in Germany), was born around 1068.[1] She was the daughter of Vsevolod I, Grand Prince of Kiev, but it was not her connection to Kievan Rus', but her first marriage to Henry of Stade, Margrave of the Nordmark, that made her an ideal spouse for Henry after her husband died in 1087.[2][3] Henry of Stade had been a wealthy Saxon aristocrat and his widow's marriage to Henry contributed to his reconciliation with the Saxons.[4] Henry and Eupraxia were engaged in 1088.[5] In contrast with Bertha, Eupraxia was mentioned in only one of her husband's diplomas, showing that she never gained Henry's confidence.


Children


Offspring of Heinrich IV Salian of the Holy Roman Empire and Bertha de Savoie (1051-1087)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Adelheid of the Holy Roman Empire (1070-1079) August 1070 4 June 1079
Heinrich of the Holy Roman Empire (1071-1071) August 1071 2 August 1071
Agnes of the Holy Roman Empire (c1072-1143) 1072 24 September 1143 Klosterneuburg Friedrich I. von Schwaben (c1050-1105)
Luitpold III. von Österreich (1073-1136)
Konrad of the Holy Roman Empire (1074-1101) 12 February 1074 Hersfeld Abbey, Germany 27 June 1101 Florence, Italy Constanze of Sicily (?-1138)
Heinrich V of the Holy Roman Empire (1086-1125) 8 November 1086 23 May 1125 Utrecht Matilda of Normandy (1102-1167)



Siblings


Offspring of Heinrich III of the Holy Roman Empire (1017-1056) and Gunhilda of Denmark (c1020-1038)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Beatrix of the Holy Roman Empire (1037-1061) 1037 Goslar 13 July 1061 Quedlinburg


Offspring of Heinrich III of the Holy Roman Empire (1017-1056) and Agnes of Poitou (c1025-1077)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Adelheid of the Holy Roman Empire (1045-1096) 1045 Goslar, Saxony, Germany 11 January 1096 Quedlinburg, Saxony, Germany
Gisela of the Holy Roman Empire (1047-1053) 1047 1053
Mathilde of the Holy Roman Empire (1048-1060) October 1048 Pöhlde 12 May 1060 Goslar Rudolf von Rheinfelden (c1025-1080)
Heinrich IV of the Holy Roman Empire (1050-1106) 11 November 1050 Imperial Palace of Goslar, Goslar, Lower Saxony, Germany 7 August 1106 Liege Bertha de Savoie (1051-1087)
Eupraxia of Kiev (1071-1109)
Konrad von Bayern (1052-1055) 1052 Regensburg 10 April 1055 Regensburg
Judith of the Holy Roman Empire (1054-c1094) 9 April 1054 Goslar 14 April 1094 Solomon of Hungary (1053-1087)
Wladyslaw I Herman of Poland (c1044-1102)


Offspring of Heinrich III of the Holy Roman Empire (1017-1056) and unknown parent
Name Birth Death Joined with
Azela of Swabia (c1050-)


See Also

Bibliography

  • Andersson, Theodore M.; Gade, Kari Ellen (2012). Morkinskinna: The Earliest Icelandic Chronicle of the Norwegian Kings (1030–1157). Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-1-5017-2061-1. 
  • Barber, Malcolm (2004). The Two Cities: Medieval Europe 1050–1320. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 0-415-17414-7. 
  • Blumenthal, Uta-Renate (2010). The Investiture Controversy: Church and Monarchy from the Ninth to the Twelfth Century. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 978-0-8122-1386-7. 
  • Chazan, Robert (2006). The Jews of Medieval Western Christendom: 1000–1500. Cambridge medieval textbooks. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 978-0-521-84666-0. 
  • Fuhrmann, Horst (2001). Germany in the High Middle Ages, c. 1050–1200. Cambridge medieval textbooks. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-31980-3. 
  • Hill, Boyd H. (2020). Medieval Monarchy in Action: The German Empire from Henry I to Henry IV. Routledge Library Editions: The Medieval World. 21. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-429-26124-4. 
  • Robinson, I. S. (2003). Henry IV of Germany, 1056–1106. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-54590-0. 
  • Schutz, Herbert (2010). The Medieval Empire in Central Europe: Dynastic Continuity in the Post-Carolingian Frankish Realm, 900-1300. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4438-1966-4. 

External Links

Royal Succession Charts

Heinrich IV of the Holy Roman Empire (1050-1106)
Born: 1050 Died: 1106
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Henry III
German King
1054–1105
Succeeded by
Henry V
King of Italy
1056–1105
King of Burgundy
1056–1105
Holy Roman Emperor
1084–1105
Preceded by
Conrad I
Duke of Bavaria
1052–1054
Succeeded by
Conrad II
Preceded by
Welf I
Duke of Bavaria
1078–1096
Succeeded by
Welf I

Contemporary Sources

To learn more about the life of Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor, there are several contemporary sources that provide valuable insights and historical information. It's important to note that while these sources provide contemporary accounts, they may be subject to bias and interpretation. Therefore, historians often consult multiple sources and consider different perspectives to gain a comprehensive understanding of Henry IV's life and the historical events surrounding his reign. These sources include:

  1. "Annales Sancti Disibodi" (Annals of St. Disibod): This chronicle provides an account of the events during Henry IV's reign, particularly focusing on the Investiture Controversy. It covers the period from 1050 to 1085 and offers contemporary perspectives on the conflicts between the papacy and the emperor.
  2. "Vita Heinrici IV" (Life of Henry IV): This biography, written by a monk named Wipo of Burgundy, provides a detailed account of Henry IV's life and reign. Wipo was a contemporary of Henry and served as a court chaplain, which gives his work a unique perspective. It offers valuable insights into the political and religious struggles of the time.
  3. "Gesta Friderici" (Deeds of Frederick): This chronicle, authored by Otto of Freising, focuses on the life and reign of Henry IV's son, Frederick I (Barbarossa). While it primarily deals with Frederick, it also provides information about Henry IV and the events leading up to his reign. Otto of Freising was a bishop and historian who lived during the 12th century, making his work a valuable contemporary source.
  4. "Vita Gregorii VII" (Life of Gregory VII): Although this work primarily focuses on Pope Gregory VII, it sheds light on the conflict between the pope and Henry IV during the Investiture Controversy. The biography was written by a contemporary of Gregory VII named Paul of Bernried and provides valuable insights into the relationship between the pope and the emperor.
  5. Papal Correspondence: The letters exchanged between Pope Gregory VII, his successors, and Henry IV himself serve as essential contemporary sources for understanding the events and perspectives during Henry's reign. These letters, found in various collections and archives, offer insights into the negotiations, disputes, and power struggles between the papacy and the Holy Roman Empire.


References

  1. ^ Robinson 2003, pp. 266, 269.
  2. ^ Fuhrmann 2001, p. 68.
  3. ^ Robinson 2003, p. 269.
  4. ^ Schutz 2010, p. 175.
  5. ^ Robinson 2003, p. 266.


Footnotes (including sources)

Rtol, Afil, Thurstan, MainTour

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