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.


Alexander III
Bishop of Rome
Alexander III bidding farewell to Thomas Becket (13th century miniature attributed to Matthew Paris, British Library)
ChurchCatholic Church
Papacy began7 September 1159
Papacy ended30 August 1181
PredecessorAdrian IV
SuccessorLucius III
Orders
Consecration20 September 1159
by Ubaldo Allucingoli
Created cardinalOctober 1150
by Eugene III
Personal details
Born
Rolando

c. 1100–05
Died(1181-08-30)30 August 1181
Civita Castellana, Papal States
Previous post(s)
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.

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