The German prices put forward a new claimant, Hermann of Luxembourg, in August 1081, but his personality is not suitable for a leader of the Gregorian party in Germany, and the power of Henry IV is at its peak.

The king, now more experienced, takes up the struggle with great vigor.

He refuses to acknowledge the ban on the ground of its illegality.

A Waiblingen council had been summoned at Brixen, and on June 16 it pronounces Gregory (whom Henry has dubbed "The False Monk") deposed.

On June 25, it nominates the archbishop Guibert of Ravenna as his successor, declaring him Clement III.

Guibert, of noble birth, had served at the German court in the mid-1050s and become imperial chancellor for Italy from 1058 to 1063.

As such, he had supported the election of Bishop Peter Cadalus of Parma as antipope Honorius II in 1061.

His appointment by Henry IV of Germany as archbishop of Ravenna had been confirmed by Pope Alexander II, but he later clashed with Gregory VII.

When Guibert becomes the Italian leader of the imperialist faction opposing the Gregorian reform, Gregory had excommunicated him.

Henry opens the conflict against Gregory in Italy in 1081.

The latter has now become less powerful, and thirteen cardinals desert him.