The Leonine City falls into Henry’s hands…

The Leonine City falls into Henry’s hands after a siege of seven months.

A treaty is concluded with the Romans, who agree that the quarrel between king and pope should be decided by a synod, and they secretly bind themselves to induce Gregory to crown Henry as emperor or to choose another pope.

Gregory, however, shut up in Castel Sant'Angelo, will hear of no compromise; the synod, held in November 1083, is a failure, as Henry had prevented the attendance of many of the pope's supporters, and the king, pursuant to his treaty with Alexios, marches against the Normans.

The fathers of the synod, very much aware of the menacing presence of Henry's soldiers across the Tiber, had pleaded with Gregory not to renew his excommunication of the king at this time, whereupon the Pope contents himself with a general excommunication of all who had prevented attendance of the synod.