Henry had in the late 1060s demonstrated his determination to reduce any opposition and to enlarge the national boundaries.

He has led expeditions against the Lutici and the margrave of a district east of Saxony.

Much more serious is Henry's struggle with Otto of Nordheim, duke of Bavaria.

Otto belongs to the rich and influential Saxon family of the counts of Northeim, and having distinguished himself in war and peace alike, in 1061 had received the Stem Duchy of Bavaria from the Dowager Empress Agnes of Poitou, widow of Emperor Henry III and mother of the child Emperor Henry IV.

In 1062, he had assisted Archbishop Anno II of Cologne to seize Henry IV at Kaiserswerth in order to deprive his mother of power.

Otto had led a successful expedition into Hungary in 1063 and had taken a prominent part in the Empire's government during the King's minority.

In 1064, he had gone to Italy to settle a papal schism and had been largely instrumental in securing the banishment from court of Archbishop Adalbert of Bremen-Hamburg.

He had crossed the Alps in the royal interests on two other occasions and in 1069 had shared in two expeditions to the east of Germany.

Otto is in 1070 accused by a certain Egeno von Konradsburg of being privy to a plot to murder the king, and it is decided he should submit to trial by combat with his accuser at Goslar.

The duke smells treason and asks for a safe-conduct to and from the place of meeting.

When this is refused, he declines to appear and is consequently placed under the imperial ban and deprived of Bavaria, while his Saxon estates are plundered.