However, for the "loyal princes of the Empire," this was not necessarily bad news—at least not for Duke Berthold of Carinthia, Duke Rudolph of Swabia, Duke Welf of Bavaria, and Otto of Notheim, the former Duke of Bavaria. They were some of the most powerful nobles in the Empire.
Each of them had, to some extent, suffered persecution at the hands of the detestable Henry IV—or at least, that was how they saw it. They had once been Henry IV's close friends and brothers-in-law, but now they had resolved to become his enemies.
They had gathered here now to discuss the decree of excommunication, to find ways to humiliate the young Emperor, and to reclaim the lands and titles they had lost.
"If you want to snatch the crown from that little brat's head, now is the perfect chance," Rudolph said, breaking the silence. "The Pope is on our side now. Be brave. You're already sitting here, so stop dilly-dallying."
