The Synod of Worms was an ecclesiastical synod

Synod

A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...

 (and German national council or Reichstag

Reichstag (Holy Roman Empire)

The Imperial Diet was the Diet, or general assembly, of the Imperial Estates of the Holy Roman Empire.During the period of the Empire, which lasted formally until 1806, the Diet was not a parliament in today's sense; instead, it was an assembly of the various estates of the realm...

) convened by the Emperor Henry IV in January 1076, at Worms, Germany

Worms, Germany

Worms is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on the Rhine River. At the end of 2004, it had 85,829 inhabitants.Established by the Celts, who called it Borbetomagus, Worms today remains embattled with the cities Trier and Cologne over the title of "Oldest City in Germany." Worms is the only...

. It was intended to agree a condemnation of Pope Gregory VII

Pope Gregory VII

Pope St. Gregory VII , born Hildebrand of Sovana , was Pope from April 22, 1073, until his death. One of the great reforming popes, he is perhaps best known for the part he played in the Investiture Controversy, his dispute with Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor affirming the primacy of the papal...

, and Henry's success in achieving this outcome marked the beginning of the Investiture Controversy

Investiture Controversy

The Investiture Controversy or Investiture Contest was the most significant conflict between Church and state in medieval Europe. In the 11th and 12th centuries, a series of Popes challenged the authority of European monarchies over control of appointments, or investitures, of church officials such...

.

Of the 38 German bishops, 24 attended. Henry's supporters included Adalbero of Würzburg

Adalbero of Würzburg

Adalbero of Würzburg was Bishop of Würzburg and Count of Lambach-Wels.-Life:He was the son of Count Arnold II of Lambach in Upper Austria and his wife the Countess Reginlint. He was born around 1010 in Lambach an der Traun...

, William I, Bishop of Utrecht

William I, Bishop of Utrecht

William I was bishop of Utrecht between 1054 and 1076. He was a typical representative of the German imperial system in which bishops were the main officials of the empire. He was a loyal follower of king Henry IV of Germany...

 and Henri de Verdun

Henri de Verdun

Henri de Verdun was bishop of Liège from 1075 to 1091. He owed his election to the influence of his relative Godefroid le Bossu, duke of Lower Lorraine, with the Emperor Henry IV...

. The Cardinal Hugh of Remiremont

Hugh of Remiremont

Hugh of Remiremont , called Candidus or Blancus , was a medieval Cardinal....

, who had already cut ties with the Pope, spoke damningly against Gregory, who was declared deposed. Gebhard of Salzburg

Gebhard of Salzburg

Blessed Gebhard of Salzburg , also occasionally known as Gebhard of Helfenstein, was Archbishop of Salzburg from 1060 until his death. He was one of the fiercest opponents of King Henry IV during the Investiture Controversy....

, a supporter of Gregory, stayed away.