Canossa
Encyclopedia
Canossa is a comune
and castle town in Emilia-Romagna
, famous as the site where Holy Roman Emperor
Henry IV
did penance in 1077, standing three days bare-headed in the snow, in order to reverse his excommunication
by Pope Gregory VII
. The Walk to Canossa
is sometimes used as a symbol of the changing relationship between the medieval Church
and State
.
Canossa has a population of 3,376, and borders the comuni of Casina
, Castelnovo ne' Monti
, Neviano degli Arduini
(PR), San Polo d'Enza
, Traversetolo
(PR), Vetto
, and Vezzano sul Crostolo
.
Canossa Castle
was built before the middle of the 10th century by Adalbert Atto, son of Sigifred of Lucca
.
When Adelaide of Italy
, the respective daughter, daughter-in-law, and widow of the last three kings of Italy, was hard pressed by a local noble – Berengar of Ivrea, who declared himself king of Italy, abducted Adelaide, and tried to legitimize his reign by forcing Adelaide to marry his son Adalbert – it was to Canossa that she escaped. From the rocca
of Canossa she issued a call for German intervention. Canossa was inherited by Matilda of Tuscany
, the principal Italian supporter of Pope Gregory VII, in 1052. Matilda died in 1115 in Mantuan territory.
Matilda invited the Pope Gregory VII to take refuge in Canossa castle in 1076/77 during the dispute with Henry IV, the Holy Roman Emperor. In the end their joint fears proved groundless when Henry appeared in the guise of a penitent and begged for "forgiveness" and reinstatement in the church. After three days of waiting at the castle gates, Henry was admitted and forgiven.
The fortress was destroyed by invaders from Reggio
in 1256. The church of San Apollonio, within the walls and contemporary with the castle, was also destroyed. Only the christening font remains, preserved in the national museum "Naborre Campanini" next to the remains of the wall.
Perched spectacularly on top of the white cliffs of the Apennines
, the castle is an abandoned ruin today. Because of its historical importance each year more than 30,000 tourists come here, especially from Germany.
is an Italian saint of the early 19th century, who set up the Institute of the Daughters of Charity and in whose name Canossian schools have been set up in many countries.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
and castle town in Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna
Emilia–Romagna is an administrative region of Northern Italy comprising the two historic regions of Emilia and Romagna. The capital is Bologna; it has an area of and about 4.4 million inhabitants....
, famous as the site where Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
Henry IV
Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry IV was King of the Romans from 1056 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1084 until his forced abdication in 1105. He was the third emperor of the Salian dynasty and one of the most powerful and important figures of the 11th century...
did penance in 1077, standing three days bare-headed in the snow, in order to reverse his excommunication
Excommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
by Pope Gregory VII
Pope Gregory VII
Pope St. Gregory VII , born Hildebrand of Sovana , was Pope from April 22, 1073, until his death. One of the great reforming popes, he is perhaps best known for the part he played in the Investiture Controversy, his dispute with Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor affirming the primacy of the papal...
. The Walk to Canossa
Walk to Canossa
The Walk to Canossa refers to both the trek itself of Henry IV of the Holy Roman Empire from Speyer to the fortress at Canossa in Emilia Romagna and to the events surrounding his journey, which took place in and around January 1077.-Historical background:When, in his early...
is sometimes used as a symbol of the changing relationship between the medieval Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and State
Sovereign state
A sovereign state, or simply, state, is a state with a defined territory on which it exercises internal and external sovereignty, a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other sovereign states. It is also normally understood to be a state which is neither...
.
Canossa has a population of 3,376, and borders the comuni of Casina
Casina
For other meanings see Casina .Casina is a comune in the Province of Reggio Emilia in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 70 km west of Bologna and about 25 km southwest of Reggio Emilia...
, Castelnovo ne' Monti
Castelnovo ne' Monti
Castelnovo Monti Castelnovo Monti Castelnovo Monti (official: Castelnovo ne' Monti is a town and comune in the province of Reggio Emilia, central Italy.Along with every other town and village in the Apennines, Castelnovo is an approved area for the production of Parmesan cheese...
, Neviano degli Arduini
Neviano degli Arduini
Neviano degli Arduini is a comune in the Province of Parma in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 80 km west of Bologna and about 25 km south of Parma....
(PR), San Polo d'Enza
San Polo d'Enza
San Polo d'Enza is a comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy, located about 70 km west of Bologna and about 20 km southwest of Reggio Emilia...
, Traversetolo
Traversetolo
Traversetolo is a comune in the Province of Parma in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 80 km west of Bologna and about 20 km south of Parma...
(PR), Vetto
Vetto
Vetto is a comune in the Province of Reggio Emilia in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 80 km west of Bologna and about 35 km southwest of Reggio Emilia...
, and Vezzano sul Crostolo
Vezzano sul Crostolo
Vezzano sul Crostolo is a comune in the Province of Reggio Emilia in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 60 km west of Bologna and about 13 km southwest of Reggio Emilia...
.
Main sights
Canossa Castle
The Castle of Canossa is a castle in Canossa, province of Reggio Emilia, northern Italy.It is especially known as the seat of the Walk to Canossa, the meeting of Emperor Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII during the Investiture Controversy .- History :...
was built before the middle of the 10th century by Adalbert Atto, son of Sigifred of Lucca
Lucca
Lucca is a city and comune in Tuscany, central Italy, situated on the river Serchio in a fertile plainnear the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Lucca...
.
When Adelaide of Italy
Adelaide of Italy
Saint Adelaide of Italy , also called Adelaide of Burgundy, was the second wife of Otto the Great, Holy Roman Emperor...
, the respective daughter, daughter-in-law, and widow of the last three kings of Italy, was hard pressed by a local noble – Berengar of Ivrea, who declared himself king of Italy, abducted Adelaide, and tried to legitimize his reign by forcing Adelaide to marry his son Adalbert – it was to Canossa that she escaped. From the rocca
Rocca (architecture)
Rocca is an Italian term meaning a high, fortifiable stronghold, usually located in smaller towns, beneath or on which the village or town clustered, within which its inhabitants might take refuge at times of trouble; under its owners' patronage the settlement might hope to find prosperity in...
of Canossa she issued a call for German intervention. Canossa was inherited by Matilda of Tuscany
Matilda of Tuscany
Matilda of Tuscany was an Italian noblewoman, the principal Italian supporter of Pope Gregory VII during the Investiture Controversy. She is one of the few medieval women to be remembered for her military accomplishments...
, the principal Italian supporter of Pope Gregory VII, in 1052. Matilda died in 1115 in Mantuan territory.
Matilda invited the Pope Gregory VII to take refuge in Canossa castle in 1076/77 during the dispute with Henry IV, the Holy Roman Emperor. In the end their joint fears proved groundless when Henry appeared in the guise of a penitent and begged for "forgiveness" and reinstatement in the church. After three days of waiting at the castle gates, Henry was admitted and forgiven.
The fortress was destroyed by invaders from Reggio
Reggio Emilia
Reggio Emilia is an affluent city in northern Italy, in the Emilia-Romagna region. It has about 170,000 inhabitants and is the main comune of the Province of Reggio Emilia....
in 1256. The church of San Apollonio, within the walls and contemporary with the castle, was also destroyed. Only the christening font remains, preserved in the national museum "Naborre Campanini" next to the remains of the wall.
Perched spectacularly on top of the white cliffs of the Apennines
Apennine mountains
The Apennines or Apennine Mountains or Greek oros but just as often used alone as a noun. The ancient Greeks and Romans typically but not always used "mountain" in the singular to mean one or a range; thus, "the Apennine mountain" refers to the entire chain and is translated "the Apennine...
, the castle is an abandoned ruin today. Because of its historical importance each year more than 30,000 tourists come here, especially from Germany.
Other
Saint Magdalen of CanossaMagdalen of Canossa
Magdalene of Canossa was an Italian nun. She was born to a Veronese family; her father died in 1779 and her mother abandoned her in 1781...
is an Italian saint of the early 19th century, who set up the Institute of the Daughters of Charity and in whose name Canossian schools have been set up in many countries.
See also
- Walk to CanossaWalk to CanossaThe Walk to Canossa refers to both the trek itself of Henry IV of the Holy Roman Empire from Speyer to the fortress at Canossa in Emilia Romagna and to the events surrounding his journey, which took place in and around January 1077.-Historical background:When, in his early...
- Matilda of TuscanyMatilda of TuscanyMatilda of Tuscany was an Italian noblewoman, the principal Italian supporter of Pope Gregory VII during the Investiture Controversy. She is one of the few medieval women to be remembered for her military accomplishments...