According to marital tradition, a Feudal Lord and his new bride were to tour their domain after the wedding, and their Vassals were obligated to host them.
This tour would typically take over a month—even longer for a larger domain.
While the Nobility would cover the expense of hosting the Marchioness, the traditions of the Italian Cities dictated that any major event must also include large-scale donations and alms.
As these were extraordinary times, Gregory was anxiously awaiting a resolution to the threat posed by the Emperor.
A large-scale tour was out of the question. Touring every city in the whole of the Tuscan domain would take at least two months, if not more. The official tour was thus postponed for five months, replaced for now by a smaller, symbolic one.
The tour was limited to the cities and small towns near Canossa. The most distant towns and villages were less than a day's round trip away.
