What if Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV of the Salian Dynasty had contracted a fever in the midst of his penitence ritual at Canossa in 1077 AD, which he was doing in order to forfeit his excommunication by Pope Gregory VII, and perished?
What effects does this have on...
The Investiture Controversy? IMO, this could result in an earlier pro-Papal solution to this political conflict.
The Holy Roman Empire? Would future HR Emperors still execute campaigns against Italy in order to be crowned as King in the region, or would Italy be heretofore forfeited as the Pope's territory? How would the internal enemies of the Salians, such as the Dukes of Saxony, take advantage of this situation?
Any other areas of interest?
What effects does this have on...
The Investiture Controversy? IMO, this could result in an earlier pro-Papal solution to this political conflict.
The Holy Roman Empire? Would future HR Emperors still execute campaigns against Italy in order to be crowned as King in the region, or would Italy be heretofore forfeited as the Pope's territory? How would the internal enemies of the Salians, such as the Dukes of Saxony, take advantage of this situation?
Any other areas of interest?