Pope Gregory VII

NAME Born Hildebrand Bonizi (sometimes written Hildebrand of Sovana) around 1020 in Sovana, Tuscany. He took the papal name Gregory VII when elected pope in 1073.

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Gregory VII is most famous for his reforms of the medieval Church, especially the Dictatus Papae (1075), which outlawed simony (the buying and selling of church offices) and insisted on clerical celibacy. He also clashed with Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV in the Investiture Controversy, leading to the dramatic scene at Canossa (1077), where Henry stood barefoot in the snow to seek absolution.

BIRTH Gregory VII was born around 1015-1025 AD near Sovana (also called Soana), a small town in Tuscany, in what is now the province of Grosseto, Italy. Some sources suggest his birthplace may have been the nearby village of Rovacum (Rovaco). The exact birth year remains disputed among historians, with dates ranging from 1015 to 1025.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Hildebrand came from humble origins. His father Bonizo (or Bonzio) is described by various chroniclers as either a blacksmith, carpenter, or peasant farmer. Contemporary sources describe him as "vir de plebe" (a man of the people). His mother's name is unrecorded in historical sources. However, his family was sufficiently prosperous to send him to Rome for education, suggesting they belonged to the working or upper-middle class rather than being destitute. His maternal uncle Laurentius was abbot of the monastery of Santa Maria on the Aventine Hill in Rome.

CHILDHOOD Gregory's childhood was spent largely in Rome, where he was sent at a young age to be educated at his uncle's monastery. He grew up "in the bosom of this Mother Church" as he later described it, indicating he was destined for ecclesiastical life from his earliest years. At the Lateran school, Gregory studied alongside several youths of the Roman aristocracy. His childhood environment was one of discipline and fervent devotion within the monastery setting.

EDUCATION Gregory received his early education at the monastery of Santa Maria on the Aventine Hill under his uncle's supervision. He then studied at the Lateran school (Romanum Palatium) and the Schola Cantorum (School of Musicians) in the Lateran Palace. 

One of his most influential teachers was Johannes Gratianus (John Gratian), who later became Pope Gregory VI. He also studied under the learned Bishop Laurentius of Amalfi. After Gregory VI's deposition in 1046, Hildebrand accompanied him into exile in Cologne, where he completed his studies at the cathedral school. 

He likely spent time at the famous monastery of Cluny in France, though whether he formally became a Benedictine monk remains disputed among historians.

CAREER RECORD Gregory's ecclesiastical career spanned over three decades before becoming pope:

1046: Served as chaplain to Pope Gregory VI

1046-1047: Accompanied Gregory VI into exile in Germany

1047-1049: Remained in Germany, worked with reform groups, possibly at Cluny

1049: Returned to Rome with Pope Leo IX, appointed papal treasurer and made cardinal-deacon

1050s: Served as abbot and rector of San Paolo fuori le Mura monastery

1054: Served as papal legate to France and at Emperor Henry III's court

1057-1058: Again served as legate to Milan and Germany

1059: Named archdeacon of the Roman Church and Chancellor of the Apostolic See, becoming the most important figure in papal administration

1049-1073: Served as chief counselor for five successive popes: Leo IX, Victor II, Stephen IX, Nicholas II, and Alexander II

April 22, 1073: Elected Pope by popular acclamation of clergy and people

APPEARANCE Contemporary sources describe Gregory VII as physically unimpressive. He was of small stature, described by opponents in harsh terms. The Abbot Hugh of Cluny noted his diminutive size, while his enemy Benzo scornfully called him a "homuncio" (dwarf). Another hostile chronicler described him as "valde fuscus; deformis aspectu" (very dark; deformed in appearance). Despite his small physical presence, all sources agree that he possessed a commanding and forceful personality that overcame his physical limitations. (1)

Depiction of pope Gregory VII. From the "Vita Gregorii VII" of Paul von Bernried,

FASHION Pope Gregory lived modestly, in keeping with his reformist ideals—eschewing ostentation in favor of clerical simplicity.

CHARACTER Gregory VII possessed a fiery and unyielding will, a relentless determination, and immense piety. He was a man of action who was often seen as brusque and uncompromising in his pursuit of church reform and the establishment of papal authority. 

Gregory was characterized as possessing extraordinary energy and determination, described as "probably the most energetic and determined man ever to occupy the See of Peter". He was driven by an almost mystically exalted vision of papal dignity and responsibility. (2)

His character combined inflexible moral conviction with surprising flexibility in methods, which sometimes perplexed both supporters and opponents. 

He demonstrated remarkable administrative ability, zeal, moral force, and religious conviction. 

SPEAKING VOICE Though weak of voice, Hildebrand  possessed a commanding personality and presence and could stir both clergy and laypeople with his speeches.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Very little is recorded of Gregory’s humor—his contemporaries often portrayed him as stern and serious.

RELATIONSHIPS Gregory maintained significant relationships throughout his career. His most important early relationship was with Pope Gregory VI, who served as mentor and whom he accompanied into exile. 

He developed close friendships with other reform-minded churchmen including St. Peter Damian and Humbert of Moyenmoutier. 

His relationship with Emperor Henry IV began cordially but became his most famous conflict. 

Gregory forged important alliances with Norman leaders, particularly Robert Guiscard, though this relationship was often complex and sometimes adversarial. 

He maintained extensive correspondence with rulers and clergy across Europe, as documented in his Register of 389 letters.

MONEY AND FAME Gregory VII rose from modest economic circumstances to the highest position in the Church. As papal treasurer under Leo IX and later as archdeacon, he demonstrated exceptional administrative and financial skills, helping restore order to the Patrimony of St. Peter (papal estates). Despite achieving the ultimate ecclesiastical position, Gregory maintained personal austerity and was motivated by reform rather than personal gain or temporal wealth.

FOOD AND DRINK As a monk and reformer, he lived frugally and likely adhered to the ascetic dietary practices of Cluny.

MUSIC AND ARTS  Gregory received education at the Schola Cantorum (School of Musicians) in Rome, indicating exposure to liturgical music and sacred arts. The Cluniac tradition placed high value on liturgical chant, which Gregory likely appreciated.

LITERATURE Gregory VII was a prolific correspondent and author. His most famous written work was the Dictatus Papae (1075), consisting of 27 revolutionary statements asserting papal authority. 

His most important literary legacy is his Register containing 389 letters written over his 12-year pontificate. His correspondence reveals a pope who apologized for his "rusticano stilo" (rustic style) but who personally composed important letters rather than delegating to secretaries. They demonstrate deep theological knowledge, administrative acumen, and provide insights into medieval diplomacy and church governance.

NATURE His monastic background exposed him to the rhythms of agricultural and cloister life.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Gregory VIIf focused entirely on church matters. there are no records of hobbies

SCIENCE AND MATHS Gregory VII demonstrated exceptional administrative and organizational abilities suggesting mathematical aptitude in managing papal finances and estates.

PAPACY Pope Gregory VII’s reign (1073–1085) was not exactly what you’d call a quiet posting. If you were expecting a pleasant retirement job involving a bit of incense, a few choirs, and the occasional sermon, you’d be disappointed. Gregory, who had started life as Hildebrand, the blacksmith’s son from Sovana, found himself dragged rather dramatically into the centre of medieval European politics. And not just the centre, but the noisy bit where emperors shout at popes, and popes shout back.

When Pope Alexander II died, Hildebrand was not really elected in the tidy, orderly way you’d imagine. No, the crowd—priests, monks, passers-by, the lot of them—spilled into the streets shouting “Hildebrand, bishop!” as if they’d just spotted their favourite striker coming onto the pitch. The cardinals looked at one another, sighed, and said, “Well, that seems to settle it,” and the very next day, April 22, 1073,  Hildebrand became Pope Gregory VII.

He didn’t waste time with niceties. In 1075, he produced a little list called the Dictatus Papae, which, among other things, forbade priests from marrying, and banned the buying and selling of church offices. Perfectly sensible rules if you wanted a holy church, but not so popular if you were the sort of person who’d just bought yourself a bishopric.

Enter Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor, who was, shall we say, not thrilled. He decided he would simply declare Gregory deposed. Gregory, being of a fiery temperament, responded by excommunicating Henry, which in medieval politics was rather like changing the locks and telling everyone in the village that Henry wasn’t allowed in the pub anymore. Suddenly a lot of Henry’s supporters started drifting away.

Things came to a head at Canossa in 1077. Picture the scene: Henry, the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, standing outside a castle in the Apennines, barefoot in the snow, begging Gregory to forgive him. For three days. It was the Middle Ages’ most famous game of “I’m not letting you in until you say sorry.” Eventually Gregory relented, and Henry came inside, no doubt with very cold feet but restored imperial dignity.

Henry IV begging forgiveness of Pope Gregory VII at Canossa, 

Gregory didn’t end his papacy in triumph—he finished his days in exile at Salerno after his Norman allies caused chaos in Rome. But history was kinder to him than his contemporaries. His insistence that the pope should be independent of emperors and kings reshaped the medieval world. Later generations canonised him, which is a way of the Church saying, “We might not have liked you at the time, but you were definitely onto something.” 

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Gregory VII wasn’t exactly shy when it came to theology. His basic position was that the pope — meaning himself — was in charge of just about everything that mattered, both in church and, if we’re honest, in politics too. In his Dictatus Papae he wrote things like, “The Roman Church was founded by God alone” and “The pope may depose emperors.” You can imagine Henry IV reading that, spitting out his mead, and saying, “He may what?”

Gregory also declared that “the Roman Church has never erred nor will ever err in perpetuity,” which is the sort of thing you say if you’re supremely confident, or if no one in the room dares to contradict you.

All of this was built on Scripture, especially Christ telling St. Peter about binding and loosing, which Gregory interpreted with great enthusiasm. He also leaned heavily on the earlier Gregory the Great, who had set the standard for papal authority centuries before. The result was a theological framework that essentially said: if it’s a choice between the pope and the emperor, always go with the pope. And if the emperor doesn’t like it, he can take his boots off and queue up outside in the snow until he changes his mind.

POLITICS One of the most politically influential popes of the Middle Ages, Gregory VII fundamentally transformed medieval politics through his assertion of papal supremacy over temporal rulers.  His conflict with Henry IV over lay investiture became a defining moment in Church-state relations, establishing the foundation for future papal claims to temporal authority and influencing Church-State relations for centuries.

SCANDAL Gregory VII's radical reforms generated significant controversy. His enforcement of clerical celibacy in 1074 through excommunication of married priests provoked widespread resistance, particularly in Germany and France. Opponents accused him of overstepping papal authority and breaking Christian unity. His enemy Beno of Santi Martino e Silvestro accused him of necromancy, cruelty, tyranny, and blasphemy. Protestant reformer John Foxe later repeated these accusations. 

The Investiture Controversy was seen by his opponents as scandalous, as it brought excommunications, civil unrest, and open defiance of imperial authority.

The establishment of Antipope Clement III by Henry IV represented a direct challenge to Gregory's legitimacy.

MILITARY RECORD Gregory VII relied on Norman military allies, particularly Robert Guiscard, Duke of Apulia, to protect papal independence.. When Henry IV captured Rome in 1084, Gregory was rescued by Robert Guiscard's army of approximately 30,000 men, including Normans, Greeks, Albanians, and Muslim Saracen militia from Sicily. This military intervention, while freeing Gregory, resulted in the sacking of Rome and forced Gregory into permanent exile. 

He had earlier attempted to organize a crusade to aid the Byzantine Empire, though this effort failed.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Gregory VII's health declined during his final years in exile. The constant stress of ecclesiastical and political conflicts, combined with his life of ascetic rigor, and the hardships of exile, likely contributed to his declining health. He died of natural causes in Salerno in 1085.

HOMES Gregory VII's primary residence was the Lateran Palace in Rome, where he had lived since childhood and which served as the papal residence. 

During the dramatic events of 1077, he stayed at Canossa Castle in Tuscany as guest of Margravine Matilda of Tuscany. 

After being forced from Rome in 1084, he took refuge in various locations in southern Italy under Norman protection, with his final residence being in Salerno, where he lived under the protection of Robert Guiscard until his death.

TRAVEL Gregory VII traveled extensively throughout his career. He accompanied Gregory VI into exile in Germany (1046-1047), spent time at Cluny monastery in France, and served as papal legate to France and Germany multiple times during the 1050s. 

His Register reveals he conducted business from various Italian locations including Bologna, Carpineto (possibly Carpineti), Carpi, and Bianello. Analysis of his correspondence suggests he could travel approximately 44 kilometers (27.3 miles) per day.

DEATH Gregory VII died on May 25, 1085, in Salerno, Italy, while in exile under Norman protection. His famous last words were: "Dilexi iustitiam et odivi iniquitatem; propterea morior in exilio" ("I have loved justice and hated iniquity; therefore, I die in exile"). 

He was initially buried in the Cathedral of Salerno (San Matteo Cathedral), where his tomb remains today in the right transept. The inscription of his final words is carved on his tomb.

 Wax funeral effigy of Gregory VII in the Salerno cathedral by NicFer at Italian Wikipedia.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Gregory VII has been depicted in numerous historical works and artistic representations throughout the centuries. His conflict with Henry IV, particularly the Walk to Canossa, has been portrayed in medieval manuscripts, Renaissance paintings, and modern historical documentaries. 

Portraits from various periods show him in papal vestments, including illustrations in the Vita Gregorii VII by Paul von Bernried (12th century), 19th-century engravings, and modern artistic interpretations. 

A statue depicting Gregory exists in Chartres Cathedral, France. 

His tomb in Salerno Cathedral features artistic depictions and remains a site of pilgrimage.

ACHIEVEMENTS Canonized in 1728 by Pope Benedict XIII.

Beatified earlier in 1584 by Pope Gregory XIII.

Central figure in the Gregorian Reforms, which reshaped the medieval papacy.

Strengthened the independence of the Church from secular rulers.

Left an enduring legacy as one of the most important popes in history.

Sources: (1) The Life and Times of Hildebrand Pope Gregory VII (2) Anastpaul