Adrian V
Pope Adrian V, born Ottobuono de' Fieschi, served as head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States for a brief period in 1276. His pontificate was cut short by his death from illness before he could be ordained as a priest. He is known for his diplomatic mission to England and his appearance in Dante Alighieri's "Divine Comedy."
Key Facts
- ›Born Ottobuono de' Fieschi, he was a member of the Fieschi family of Liguria.
- ›He served as a papal envoy to England in 1265 to resolve disputes between King Henry III and his barons.
- ›Adrian V was elected pope on July 11, 1276, after the death of Innocent V.
- ›He died on August 18, 1276, from a natural illness before being ordained a priest.
- ›His funeral monument is attributed to Arnolfo DI Cambio in Viterbo.
- ›Dante Alighieri depicts him in the fifth terrace of Purgatorio, cleansing for the vice of avarice.
Ottobuono de' Fieschi
- Elected Pope Succeeding Innocent V.
- Died Before Ordination To the Priesthood.
- Annulled Pope Gregory X's Bull On Papal Conclaves.
- Served As Papal Legate In England.
Pope Clement Iv, King Henry Iii of England, Dante Alighieri, Arnolfo Di Cambio, Viterbo, England
About Adrian V
Pope Adrian V
Pope Adrian V (Latin: Hadrianus V) was the head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States for a brief period in 1276, serving from July 11 to his death on August 18 of that year. Born Ottobuono de' Fieschi, he hailed from a distinguished feudal family in Liguria, the Fieschi, counts of Lavagna.
Life and Papal Service
Ottobuono de' Fieschi held various ecclesiastical positions before his election as pope, including papal chaplain, archdeacon in Bologna and Parma, and cardinal deacon of San Adriano. A significant part of his career involved diplomacy; he was dispatched by Pope Clement IV as an envoy to England in May 1265. During his time in England, serving as papal legate from October 1265 to July 1268, he successfully resolved disputes between King Henry III and his barons. His name is even recorded on the Statute of Marlborough of 1267 as a witness.
Adrian V was elected pope following the death of Innocent V. However, his pontificate was exceptionally short, lasting just over a month. Tragically, he died of natural illness in Viterbo before he could be ordained to the priesthood. He is the third pope to reign during the tumultuous "Year of Four Popes" in 1276. His funeral monument in the church of San Francesco alla Rocca in Viterbo is attributed to Arnolfo di Cambio.
Literary Depiction
In Dante Alighieri's epic poem, the "Divine Comedy," Pope Adrian V is encountered in the fifth terrace of Purgatorio. Here, he is depicted purging the sin of avarice. Dante infers his identity through his Latin phrases, such as "I was Peter's successor" and "I was a Roman shepherd," and through his description of his family's origin between Sestri and Chiavari, which alludes to the Fieschi name and their lands. Scholars suggest Dante's portrayal may have been influenced by a misinterpretation of historical accounts.
Legacy
Due to his extremely brief pontificate, Pope Adrian V's direct impact on the papacy was limited. He did, however, annul Pope Gregory X's bull concerning the holding of papal conclaves, though he died before enacting new regulations. His diplomatic work in England and his appearance in Dante's "Divine Comedy" remain the most notable aspects of his historical significance.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Pope Adrian V reign?
Pope Adrian V reigned from July 11, 1276, until his death on August 18, 1276. His pontificate was one of the shortest in papal history.
What was Pope Adrian V's birth name and family background?
His birth name was Ottobuono de' Fieschi. He belonged to a prominent feudal family from Liguria, the Fieschi, who were counts of Lavagna.
What was Pope Adrian V known for before becoming Pope?
Before his papacy, Ottobuono de' Fieschi served as a papal envoy to England in 1265, where he successfully mediated disputes between King Henry III and his barons. He also served as a papal legate in England for several years.
Did Pope Adrian V ever become a priest?
No, Pope Adrian V died from illness before he could be ordained to the priesthood. He was elected pope but never received priestly ordination.
How is Pope Adrian V depicted in literature?
Pope Adrian V is famously depicted in Dante Alighieri's "Divine Comedy" in the fifth terrace of Purgatorio. Here, he is shown cleansing himself for the vice of avarice.
Related Popes
Innocent IV
Pope Innocent IV, born Sinibaldo Fieschi, was a prominent canonist who served as head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 1243 to 1254. His pontificate was largely defined by his ongoing conflict with Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, leading to the First Council of Lyon and the deposition of the emperor. He is also known for the papal bull "Ad extirpanda," which authorized torture against heretics.
Martin IV
Pope Martin IV, born Simon de Brion, was a French pope who served from 1281 to 1285, spending much of his pontificate outside of Rome due to political instability. His papacy was characterized by strong dependence on Charles of Anjou, leading to significant political conflicts such as the excommunication of the Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos and the declaration of a crusade against Peter III of Aragon.
Boniface VIII
Pope Boniface VIII, born Benedetto Caetani, was head of the Catholic Church and leader of the Papal States from 1294 to 1303. He asserted strong claims to both temporal and spiritual power, leading to significant conflicts with secular rulers like Philip IV of France and Albert I of Germany. His pontificate is notable for the systematization of canon law with the Liber Sextus and the establishment of the first Catholic jubilee year in Rome.