Gregory VII supported (the false) Michael VII in a letter to the bishops of Apulia & Calabria

Summary:
Gregory VII had received a cry for help from Michael VII, supposedly the deposed emperor of Byzantium (though probably a monk and imposter). The request had been seconded by Robert Guiscard. Gregory judged it right to respond to this appeal, and so wrote to the bishops of Apulia and Calabria, asking for their support. He told any bishops who joined the expedition to fulfil their spiritual role suitably, giving them authority to pronounce absolution 
Dates:
1080 
Pope Gregory VII (Gregorios 27)
  • Judging it right to respond to Michael 7's call for help, he wrote in support of his and Robert 61's expedition to the east, encouraging all involved to do their duty; he instructed bishops who joined the expedition to fulfil their spiritual role suitably, giving them authority to pronounce absolution (25 July: VIII Kalendas Augusti) Gregory VII, in Caspar VIII, 6 (524.6-26)
Emperor Michael VII Doukas (Michael 7)
  • According to his (or Raiktor 101's) story, he was unjustly deposed as emperor, and had travelled to Italy to ask Gregorios 27 and Robert 61 for help (:) ab imperialis excellentię culmine indigne potius et malitiose quam iuste aut rationabiliter esse deiectum Gregory VII, in Caspar VIII, 6 (524.1-6)
Robert Guiscard (Robert 61)