Paschal II had two long decades as Pope, from 1099 to 1118. He had numerous political struggles, most of them fighting for the power of the church against national monarchs: Henry I of England, Philip I of France, and especially Holy Roman Emperor Henry V.

Henry V demanded that the church give up all its land and titles received since the time of Charlegmagne, eventually marching on Rome with his army. He captured Paschal, and and held him in prison until he promised to fulfill Henry's demands, and promised no retribution would follow. Henry's men went back into Germany, and Pachal and the church promptly took back all they had given up, and excommunicated Henry V to boot.