|
Emperor Henry VHenry V is King of the Germans, but as Holy Roman Emperor he also rules over large sections of present day Italy, Switzerland, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. His father, Emperor Henry IV, became infamous for his long-running battle with the Pope over political power, culminating in the late emperor's excommunication. Having fought his father for the crown, Henry V now finds himself embroiled in the same dispute over who gets to appoint bishops. The question is important because bishops are not just Church officials, but also political rulers and members of the nobility.
Though Emperor Henry is more than more than two decades Maud's senior, a marriage is arranged that will bring with it a sizeable dowry: just what Henry needs in order to mount an Italian campaign and get the Pope to grant him the powers he craves. A man of strong principles, Henry V seeks to free his native Germany from foreign influence, most particularly any effort by the Church to subvert imperial powers. Much as he strove against his own father, he also questions his own position before God, even as much of Europe declares him to be a "second Judas" and a traitor to the faith. |