Adrian IV | Englishman, Breakspear, Charlemagne, Papal Legate, & Reformer

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[{"p":1,"t":6509},{"p":2,"t":441848},{"p":21,"t":144695},{"p":2,"t":57948},{"p":1,"t":418324},{"p":7,"t":92870},{"p":5,"t":527973},{"p":1,"t":292452},{"p":1,"t":245503},{"p":2,"t":618194}], "sequence": 1, "topics": {} }); </script> <article class="article-content container-lg qa-content px-0 pt-0 pb-40 py-lg-20 content " data-topic-id="6509"> <div class="grid gx-0"> <div class="col-auto"> <div class="topic-left-rail md-article-drawer position-relative d-flex border-right-sm border-left-sm open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Adrian-IV">Adrian IV</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <span class="toc-extra-link selected link-gray-900 mt-15"> Introduction </span> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Adrian-IV/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/Adrian-IV">Quick Facts & Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Adrian-IV/images-videos">Images</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/81/134781-050-0784CC93/Adrian-IV-portrait-cameo.jpg" data-href="/media/1/6509/136690" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/81/134781-004-5F36D1E9/Adrian-IV-portrait-cameo.jpg" alt="Adrian IV" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/247296-050-31568ED6/Pope-Adrian-IV.jpg" data-href="/media/1/6509/312475" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/247296-004-D25BF61E/Pope-Adrian-IV.jpg" alt="Pope Adrian IV" height="50" /> </a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled 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The female figures are believed to be either Santa Pudenziana and Santa Praxedes or symbols of the Jewish and Gentile churches. 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They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Adrian-IV/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn btn-sm border-2 btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 module-spacing js-inline-ai-ask-button p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="qf-title font-weight-bold font-14 mb-10 text-center"> Quick Facts</div> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Original name: </dt> <dd>Nicholas Breakspear</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Also known as: </dt> <dd>Hadrian IV</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Born: </dt> <dd>1100?, Abbot’s Langley, near St. Albans, <a href="/place/Hertfordshire">Hertfordshire</a>, <a href="/place/England">England</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Died: </dt> <dd>September 1, 1159, <a href="/place/Anagni">Anagni</a>, near Rome [Italy]</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Title / Office: </dt> <dd><a href="/topic/pope">pope (1154-1159)</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/Adrian-IV"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref210600"></span>Adrian IV</strong> (born 1100?, Abbot’s Langley, near St. Albans, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Hertfordshire" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Hertfordshire</a>, England—died September 1, 1159, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Anagni" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Anagni</a>, near Rome [Italy]) was the only Englishman to occupy the papal throne (1154–59).</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">He became a <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="canon" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/canon" data-type="EB">canon</a> regular of St. Ruf near <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Avignon" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Avignon</a>, France, and in about 1150 Pope <span id="ref916455"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Blessed-Eugenius-III" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Eugenius III</a> appointed him cardinal bishop of Albano, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Italy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Italy</a>. Eugenius sent him in 1152 as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/legate-Roman-Catholicism" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">legate</a> to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Scandinavia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Scandinavia</a>, where his <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/missions-Christianity" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">mission</a> to reorganize the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/hierarchy-social-science" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">hierarchy</a> was so successful that on his return in 1154 he was elected <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/pope" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">pope</a> (December 4). Adrian crowned <span id="ref210601"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frederick-I-Holy-Roman-emperor" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Frederick I</a> Barbarossa as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Holy-Roman-emperor" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Holy Roman emperor</a> in 1155, after Frederick had captured and handed over to him <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Arnold-of-Brescia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Arnold of Brescia</a>, who had led a revolt in Rome. Although Arnold was hanged and burned at the stake in 1155 and his ashes scattered over the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Tiber-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Tiber River</a>, Adrian’s conflict with the commune of Rome continued.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The papal policy toward the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Norman-people" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Normans</a> of southern Italy, however, aroused the emperor’s anger. Thereafter, the relations between Adrian and Frederick laid the groundwork for the struggle to come between <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alexander-III-pope" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Pope Alexander III</a> and Frederick. Adrian refused to recognize <span id="ref210602"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-I-king-of-Sicily" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">William I</a> the Bad, who had been <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="crowned" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/crowned" data-type="EB">crowned</a> king of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Sicily" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sicily</a> (1154). That step caused the Sicilians, after unsuccessfully attacking the papal possession of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Benevento-Italy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Benevento</a>, to wage war in the southern <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Campania-region-Italy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Campania</a>. Thereupon the pope excommunicated William.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/pop-quiz-19-things-to-know-about-christianity" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/10/58810-050-09BA4000/Christ-Ruler-Apostles-Evangelists-figures-Santa-Pudenziana-417-ce.jpg" alt="Christ as Ruler, with the Apostles and Evangelists (represented by the beasts). The female figures are believed to be either Santa Pudenziana and Santa Praxedes or symbols of the Jewish and Gentile churches. Mosaic in the apse of Santa Pudenziana, Rome,A" class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Pop Quiz: 19 Things to Know About Christianity</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="312475" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/247296-050-31568ED6/Pope-Adrian-IV.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/6509/312475"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/247296-050-31568ED6/Pope-Adrian-IV.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/247296-050-31568ED6/Pope-Adrian-IV.jpg?w=300" alt="Pope Adrian IV" data-width="1480" data-height="1600" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/247296-050-31568ED6/Pope-Adrian-IV.jpg" data-href="/media/1/6509/312475">Pope Adrian IV</a><span>The only Englishman to occupy the papal throne, Pope Adrian IV. </span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Adrian then marched to Benevento, during which time he received <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-of-Salisbury" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">John of Salisbury</a>, secretary to the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/archbishop-of-Canterbury" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">archbishop of Canterbury</a>, and granted him the <span id="ref210603"></span>Donation of Ireland (known as the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/bull-papal" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">bull</a> <em>Laudabiliter</em>), which supposedly gave <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Ireland" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Ireland</a> to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Henry-II-king-of-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Henry II</a> of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">England</a>. Attacked for false representation, the bull was subsequently refuted. (Even if <em>Laudabiliter</em> is authentic, which is doubtful, it does not grant hereditary possession of Ireland to the English king.)</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Meanwhile, in June 1156, peace was made with the Sicilians, and Adrian agreed to <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="invest" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/invest" data-type="EB">invest</a> William, who in turn became the pope’s liege man, which further embittered Frederick.</p><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="md-signature font-12"><a href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</a></span><span class="md-signature font-12">This article was most recently revised and updated by <a href="/editor/Barbara-A-Schreiber/6493">Barbara A. 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Adrian IV | Englishman, Breakspear, Charlemagne, Papal Legate, & Reformer | Britannica