Pope Alexander III

Alexander III
Alexander III depicted in a c. 1410 fresco (Palazzo Pubblico of Siena)
Papacy began7 September 1159
Papacy ended30 August 1181
PredecessorPope Adrian IV
SuccessorPope Lucius III
Personal details
Birth nameOrlando Bandinelli
Bornc. 1100
Siena
Died(1181-08-30)August 30, 1181
Rome
Other popes named Alexander

Pope Alexander III (Latin: Alexander Tertius; c. 1100 – 30 August 1181), born Orlando Bandinelli,[1] was an Italian priest of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the 171st Pope. He was Pope from 1159 to 1181.[2]

Early life

He was born in Siena. He was a member of the Bandinelli family.[3]

Cardinal

In 1150, Pope Eugene III made Bandinelli a Cardinal.[3]

Pope

Cardinal Bandinelli was elected pope on September 7, 1159; and he chose the name Alexander III.[3] His papacy was disputed by Antipope Victor IV,[4] Antipope Paschal III, Antipope Calixtus III and Antipope Innocent III.[5]

Pope Alexander was involved in Italian and European political disputes.[3]

Alexander's support for Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, did not resolve conflicts with the Henry II of England. After Becket was murdered, Alexander canonized him. [6]

  • Coat of Arms of Alexander III
    Coat of Arms of Alexander III

References

Emblem of the popes
  1. ↑ Also known as Rolando or Roland of Siena
  2. ↑ "List of Popes," Catholic Encyclopedia (2009); retrieved 2011-11-3.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Pope Alexander III", Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-16.
  4. ↑ Louis-Marie de Lahaye vicomte de Cormenin (1846). The Public and Private History of the Popes of Rome: From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Including the History of Saints, Martyrs, Fathers of the Church, Religious Orders, Cardinals, Inquisitions, Schisms, and the Great Reformers. James M. Campbell. pp. 435–447.
  5. ↑ Chisholm, Hugh (1910). The Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature and General Information. Encyclopaedia Britannica. p. 553.
  6. ↑ Penny Cyclopaedia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. C. Knight. 1833. p. 304.

Other websites

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Alexander III


Preceded by
Adrian IV 		Pope
1159–1181 		Succeeded by
Lucius III