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Alexander III, Pope

1910 New Catholic Dictionary

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• Alexander III, Pope
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• Alexander III., Pope

Reigned from September 7, 1159 to August 30, 1181. Born c.1100in Siena, Italy as Orlando Bandinelli; died Civita Castellana, Italy. He was a canonist, cardinal-priest, and papal chancellor. Elected pope almost unanimously, he was opposed with violence by the anti-pope, Cardinal Octavian, the imperial candidate, and took refuge in Anagni. He excommunicated Emperor Frederick I, who submitted after seventeen years, and in England upheld the rights for which Saint Thomas Becket suffered martyrdom, finally exacting them from King Henry II. He convoked the third Lateran Council in 1170.