Why did St. Anselm of Canterbury leave England for Rome in 1097?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Luca della Robbia: St. Anselm of Canterbury — St. Anselm of Canterbury St. Anselm of Canterbury (center), terra-cotta altarpiece by Luca della Robbia; in the Museo Diocesano, Empoli, Italy.

St. Anselm of Canterbury left England for Rome in 1097 primarily due to his ongoing conflict with King William II regarding the Investiture Controversy.1

The tension stemmed from Anselm’s refusal to accept his pallium—the symbol of his archiepiscopal authority—directly from the king, as doing so would imply that his spiritual office was derived from the monarch rather than the pope. After the English bishops sided with the king at the Synod of Rockingham in 1095, Anselm remained steadfast in his position. Eventually, William II permitted him to depart for Rome to present his grievances to Urban II, though the king seized the lands of Canterbury upon Anselm's departure.1