Pope Alexander III
Alexander III | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Rome | |
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 |
| Previous post(s) |
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| 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 |
| Other popes named Alexander | |
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.
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. He canonized Thomas Becket and Bernard of Clairvaux. The city of Alessandria in Piedmont is named after him.