Henry IV

Henry IV, the third king of the Roman people of the Franconian dynasty (also known as the Salian dynasty) (reigned from 1056 to 1105) and Holy Roman Emperor (crowned in 1084). Henry IV was also Duke of Bavaria (from 1055). He was not the most powerful monarch of the dynasty, but he may have been the most famous. His bitter struggle with Pope Gregory VII over the right to reign as bishop has been a topic of greatest interest to historians.

Henry IV supported the lower knights and the free citizens of the city, helping them advance their economic interests. By working tirelessly to stop social unrest, he won the support of all those who yearned for peace and order and were tired of the endless strife within the aristocracy. He avenged the Jews by punishing those who had committed the pogroms of 1096; he protected those who had been forcibly converted to Christianity and hoped to return them to their original religion. It was believed that Henry's cemetery would become a place of magical power. Although the king failed to make the people's aspirations for peace, prosperity, and justice a reality, he was still worshiped, and ordinary people still pinned their ideals of peace and peace on him. (From "Cambridge Illustrated German History")