The king found himself with almost no political support and was forced to make the famous Walk to Canossa in 1077, by which he achieved a lifting of the excommunication at the price of humiliation.
Kralj je ostao praktički bez ikakve političke potpore i bio je prisiljen na čuveno "hodočašće u Canossu" 1077. godine, i gdje je uspio da se povuče izopćenje ali uz cijenu poniženja.