The Pope and the Emperor, Georges Suffert

A fascinating historical account. It is the 12th century, the height of Christian Europe, after the dark centuries of the Middle Ages, and before the great fractures of the Renaissance. The relentless struggle waged for eighteen years between a forgotten Pope and a legendary Emperor. The Pope is Alexander III, of whom Voltaire, who cannot be accused of religious partiality, said that all humanity owes him great gratitude. The Emperor is Frederick Barbarossa, who became a legend through the brilliance he brought to the Holy Roman Empire, the most important figure after Charlemagne. The story of a schism that shook Christendom. How was this struggle waged, which, beyond its religious dimension, shares many similarities with conflicts of yesterday, today, or tomorrow?