Convention of Oppenheim
Henry IV (Holy Roman Emperor) · 1076AUTHOR — Henry IV (Holy Roman Emperor)
Documents Relating to the War of the Investitures
Convention of Oppenheim; October 1076
(a.) Promise of the King to offer Obedience to the Pope.
Being admonished to do so by the counsel of our faithful ones, I promise to observe in all things the obedience due to the apostolic see and to thee, pope Gregory, and will take care devoutly to correct and to render satisfaction for anything whereby a derogation to the honour of that same see, or to shine, has arisen through us. Since, moreover, certain very grave charges are brought against us concerning attempts which I am supposed to have made against that same see and against thy reverence: these, at a suitable time, I will either refute by the help of innocence and by the favour of God, or, failing this, I will at length willingly undergo a suitable penance for them. It behaves thy holiness also, moreover, not to veil those things which spread abroad concerning thee, cause scandal to the church -but rather, by removing this scruple too from the public conscience, to establish through thy wisdom the universal tranquillity of the church as well as of the kingdom.
(b.) Edict cancelling the Sentence against Gregory VII., October, 1076.
Henry, king by the grace of God, sends to the archbishops, bishops, margraves, counts and dignitaries of every rank the honourable distinction of his goodwill. Inasmuch as we have been brought to recognize, through the representations of our faithful ones, that we have been wanting in clemency, in some regards, towards the apostolic see and its venerable bishop, pope Gregory: it has pleased us, in accordance with healthful counsel, to change our former sentence and to observe, after the manner of our predecessors and progenitors, due obedience in all things to the holy see and to him who is known to preside over it, our master Gregory the pope. And if we have presumed to act too severely against him we will atone for it by rendering fitting satisfaction. We will, moreover, that ye also, warned by our Highness's example, do not hesitate to render solemn satisfaction to St. Peter and to his vicar; and that those of you who understand them selves to be bound by his bann do strive to be solemnly absolved by him-by our master, namely, Gregory the pope.
Source:<br>Henderson, Ernest F.<br>Select Historical Documents of the Middle Ages<br>London : George Bell and Sons, 1896.