Pope Alexander III
Pope Alexander III (c. 1100/1105 – 30 August 1181), born Roland (Italian: Rolando), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 7 September 1159 until his death in 1181.
Pope Alexander III | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Rome | |
,_f._1v_-_BL_Loan_MS_88_(cropped).jpg) Alexander III bidding farewell to Thomas Becket (13th century miniature attributed to Matthew Paris, British Library) | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Papacy began | 7 September 1159 |
| Papacy ended | 30 August 1181 |
| Predecessor | Adrian IV |
| Successor | Lucius III |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | 20 September 1159 by Ubaldo Allucingoli |
| Created cardinal | October 1150 by Eugene III |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rolando c. 1100–05 |
| Died | 30 August 1181 Civita Castellana, Papal States |
| Previous post(s) |
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| Other popes named Alexander | |
A native of Siena, Alexander became pope after a contested election, but had to spend much of his pontificate outside Rome while several rivals, supported by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa, claimed the papacy. Alexander rejected Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Komnenos' offer to end the East–West Schism, sanctioned the Northern Crusades, and held the Third Council of the Lateran. The city of Alessandria in Piedmont is named after him.