the rebellious german nobles used the excommunication of henry to set up a rival king, duke rudolph of swabia (forchheim, march 1077). at first gregory seemed to be neutral because the two parties (emperor and rebels) were of fairly equal strength. but finally he decided to support rudolph of swabia after his victory at "flarchheim" (january 27, 1080) and declared the excommunication and deposition of king henry again (march 7, 1080).