A study of the reign of the German king and emperor Henry IV (1056-1106).

Henry IV, Part 1 is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written no later than 1597. It is the second play in Shakespeare's tetralogy dealing with the successive reigns of Richard II, Henry IV (two plays), and Henry V. Henry IV, Part 1 depicts a span of history that begins with Hotspur's battle at Homildon against the Douglas late in 1402 and ends with the defeat of the rebels at Shrewsbury in the middle of 1403. Henry IV, Part 2 is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed written between 1596 and 1599. It is the third part of a tetralogy, preceded by Richard IIand Henry IV, Part 1 and succeeded by Henry V.

"This book describes the roots of a set of ideals that effected a radical transformation of eleventh-century European society that led to the confrontation between church and monarchy known as the investiture struggle or Gregorian reform. Ideas cannot be divorced from reality, especially not in the Middle Ages. I present them, therefore, in their contemporary political, social, and cultural context."—from the Preface

This book is the first English translation of one of the most significant chronicles of the Middle Ages. Written in Bamberg at the end of the eleventh century, Frutolf of Michelsberg’s Chronicle offers a lively and vivid account of the great struggle between the German emperors and the papacy known today as the Investiture Contest. Together with numerous continuations written in the first quarter of the twelfth century, Frutolf’s Chronicle offers an engaging and accessible snapshot of how medieval people reacted to a conflict that led to civil war in Germany and Italy, and fundamentally altered the relationship of church and state in Western society.

The medieval German empire stretched from Rome to Pomerania, and from Hainut to Silesia--its history is one of major significance for European politics, the expansion of Latin Christendom, and the fortunes of the papacy. This book is a comprehensive and vivid portrayal of the period. Ranging from the accession of Henry IV to the election of Rudolf of Habsburg, Haverkamp deals with every aspect of medieval Germany, including economic growth and population increase, education, trade and industry, the church and religious life, and political and social developments. Providing a unique European perspective on a complex and generally unfamiliar subject, his book is a valuable and up-to-date guide for the student and general reader.