Final answer:
In 1077, Pope Gregory VII forced the German ruler, Henry IV, to submit to him or risk losing his crown. This event is known as the Investiture Controversy and took place during the Middle Ages.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1077, Pope Gregory VII forced the German ruler, Henry IV, to submit to him or risk losing his crown. This event is known as the Investiture Controversy and took place during the Middle Ages. The pope and the German ruler had conflicting views on who had the authority to appoint bishops and control the church.
The Investiture Controversy was a power struggle between the Holy Roman Empire and the papacy. Pope Gregory VII banned simony, which was the practice of kings appointing church officials in exchange for bribes. When Henry IV continued to appoint bishops, Gregory excommunicated him and declared his rule illegitimate.
The Investiture Controversy was a significant event because it highlighted the struggle for power between the pope and secular rulers in medieval Europe. It also paved the way for the separation of church and state and the emergence of independent nation-states.