
Emperors vs. Popes
Half-Hour History: Secrets of the Medieval World
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Gregory VII and the Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV
Gregory VII and the Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV were at odds over who had ultimate authority. The flashpoint is Milan, where Archbishop of Milan was a key person if you're looking to come down or extend your authority north. Each appoints his own man claiming that he, emperor or pope, has the ultimate authority. And what happens are like the series of acts in a play: It's Henry versus Gregory.
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