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Name:
Pope Alexander III
Born: Orlando Bandinelli
Preceded by: Adrian IV (1154 - 1159)
Succeeded by: Lucius III (1181 - 1185)
Roman Catholic Pope #171
Antipopes: Victor IV, Paschal III, Callistus III, Innocent III
Dates:
Born: c. 1100 (Italy)
Died: August 30, 1181
Pope: September 7, 1159 - August 30, 1181 (21 years)
Third Lateran Council: 1179
Biography:
Alexander III's papacy was marred by the fact that a minority of cardinals at his election
chose instead to go with Cardinal Octavian, who adopted the papal name Victor IV. This
resulted in a new line of antipopes, with Paschal III (1164-1168) and Calixtus III
(1168-1178) succeeding him. These antipopes had the direct support of Emperor Frederick
Barbarossa, a ruler whom Alexander had actively opposed while he was still a cardinal.
It was not until the Peace of Venice in 1177 that Frederick finally accepted the papacy of Alexander, allowing Alexander to return to Rome where, in 1179, he convened the Third Lateran Council. Alexander wanted to use this Council to enact a number of important reforms and among its decisions was that no pope could be elected without receiving at least two-thirds of the cardinals' ballots
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
Related Resources:
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