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Charles the Great. This is obviously
not acceptable; the struggle be–
comes more intense.
The next pope, Calixtus 11, ex–
communicates Henry. A new and
bitter conflict seems in prospect. But
the political constellations are dif–
ferent. Religious and civil disorders
over the investiture struggle are now
fifty years old. Calixtus is more mal–
leable and feels that resolutioo of
the confiict is more important than
achieving papal aims. Secular rulers
are also tired of the struggle. This
leads to the Concordat ofWorms on
September 23, 1122, a compromise
between the papacy and the em-
PLAIN TRUTH
January
1974
peror. The emperor may still invest
bishops and abbots with their fiefs,
but they receive their ring and statr
from the Pope.
The imperial authority is consid–
erably impaired, but it is far from
broken. Politically, the German na–
tioo is in trouble. The empire is in
an unsettled and turbulent state.
The nobility has become more inde–
pendent. Though a compromise
might have been reached in the reli–
gious sphere, a final solution is still
lacking. The Concordat of Worms is
merely a stalemate.
Henry V dies of a cancerous ail–
ment at the age of forty-four, in
1125. He dies childless, and the elec–
tors swing into action, electing Lo–
thar
IIJ.
But upon Henry's death, a period
of grave civil strife and chaos begins
in the empire.
It
continues with
varying intensity for nearly a gener–
ation. Deep pessimism pervades
Germany. Many are apprehensive
of the final dissolution of the em–
pire. They believe their realm to be
the fourth empire described by the
Hebrew prophet Daniel, (in the sec–
ond and seventh chapters of the
book of Daniel) and that once the
empire expires, the beastly Antichrist
will ravage the whole world. O
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