Emperor Henry IV dies during the Walk to Canossa

As says the title. What could be the consequences of Henry IV dieing before he had reached Canossa (maybe while he was crossing the Alps during winter) and had never asked for the Pope forgiveness. Who would be his successor? And how could it affect the relation between the Emperor and the Pope?
 
As says the title. What could be the consequences of Henry IV dieing before he had reached Canossa (maybe while he was crossing the Alps during winter) and had never asked for the Pope forgiveness. Who would be his successor? And how could it affect the relation between the Emperor and the Pope?

Well if he had died his son, Conrad II would likely have been crowned Holy Roman Emperor as he was already King of Germany and his heir. Supposedly he had also been crowned King of Italy too (while in Milan in 1093).

Since Conrad II was close to the Canossa's and had sworn fealty to the Pope he would have had quite a lot of support if he kept to that track:

wikipedia said:
In 1095 he attained the Council of Piacenza and confirmed Eupraxia's accusations that Henry IV was a member of Nicolaitan sect, participated in orgies, and offered Eupraxia to Conrad[1], stating this being the reason for his turning against his father. Shortly after the Council, he swore an oath of loyalty to Pope Urban II in Cremona and served as the Pope's strator, leading the Pope's horse as a symbolic gesture of humility. In turn, Urban promised Conrad the Imperial crown. In the same year, the Pope arranged a marriage of Conrad to Constanze of Sicily, daughter of Count Roger I of Sicily.

With a marriage to Roger I's [of Sicily] daughter his hold on the Empire would have been quite stable I think.

I don't recall why he died at 27 but that could very well be butterflied away.
 
Well if he had died his son, Conrad II would likely have been crowned Holy Roman Emperor as he was already King of Germany and his heir. Supposedly he had also been crowned King of Italy too (while in Milan in 1093).

Since Conrad II was close to the Canossa's and had sworn fealty to the Pope he would have had quite a lot of support if he kept to that track:

But the Walk to Canossa happened during the winter of 1076/1077. Conrad was only 2 years old then, and IOTL he was only elected king of Germany in 1087. Was there any precedent for an infant Emperor before? Wouldn't other important noble have taken the throne for himself?
 
But the Walk to Canossa happened during the winter of 1076/1077. Conrad was only 2 years old then, and IOTL he was only elected king of Germany in 1087. Was there any precedent for an infant Emperor before? Wouldn't other important noble have taken the throne for himself?


His brother-in-law (and rival king) Rudolf of Rheinfelden seems about the likeliest.

All this, incidentally, has potentially big effects on English history. In this TL, there will be no Emperor Henry V to marry King Henry I's daughter Maud (Matilda). So she marries someone else (Rudolf's son?) and probably has children by her first marriage. So no Angevin kings.
 
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