Release date is 2010-01-16

Produced by Carlo Traverso, Claudio Paganelli and the
Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
(This file was produced from images generously made
available by The Internet Archive)

"Il re dei re, vol. 2" by Ferdinando Petruccelli della Gattina is a historical narrative likely written in the late 19th century. The book delves into the life of Ildebrando, who becomes Pope Gregory VII, exploring the tumultuous political and social landscape of 11th-century Europe, particularly the conflict between the papacy and secular powers. At its heart, the story revolves around Ildebrando's ambition to reform the Church and assert its authority over the feudal lords of Italy, positioning the pope as a pivotal figure in the governance of Christendom. The opening of the book introduces the death of Pope Alexander II and the subsequent ascendance of Ildebrando as Pope Gregory VII. It sets the historical context, detailing the feudal structure of society and the intertwining of Church and state powers. The narrative highlights Ildebrando's resolve to challenge the existing order, viewing the moral decay within the clergy and society as a call to action for reform. As he prepares to undertake this monumental task, the text illustrates his inner motivations and the complexities of the socio-political environment he must navigate to accomplish his vision of a theocratic rule that elevates the papacy above all secular authority. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Original publication data not identified