Canossa

Canossa refers to the historical event in 1077 when Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV sought forgiveness from Pope Gregory VII after a power struggle over church authority. Henry faced excommunication and needed to regain his legitimacy, so he traveled to Canossa, Italy, where he stood in the snow for three days in penance before the Pope agreed to meet him. This moment symbolized the conflict between church and state during the Middle Ages, illustrating the pope's significant influence over monarchs and setting the stage for ongoing struggles over power and authority in Europe.