Biography
Biography
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Innocent (III, Pope)
| Born | 1160 | Born At | Anagni, Italy |
| Died | July 1216 | Buried At |
| Born | 1160 / Anagni, Italy |
| Died | July 1216 / |
On the 8th of January 1198, Pope Celestine died. On the very same day, after the seeing to the affairs of the old Pope, the Cardinals met to choose his successor. They chose Cardinal Lotharius due to his good character and knoweldge, but it was not a unanimous decision due to the Cardinal's young age of thirty-seven. Eventually all agreed and Lotharius became the new Pope and chose the name Innocent. Innocent was born in the town of Anagni in central Italy and was born into the wealthy family of the Counts of Signi. His education was obtained at the universities of Rome, Paris and Bologna and he excelled in his studies. In 1207 a dispute arose between the Pope and King John of England that would endure for seven years. It started when Hubert Walter, the Archbishop of Canterbury died. The monks of Canterbury chose their sub-prior, Reginald to become the new Archbishop. The matter was delayed until December when a mission sent to Rome could consult Pope Innocent III. Reginald himself went as part of the mission and stated that he had been elected by the monks. When King John heard of this he demanded that John de Gray should be elected and the monks dutifully did. The Pope wanted neither John de Grey nor Reginald to become Archbishop and instead chose a third person, Stephen Langton. When King John heard of this he had Stephen Langton banished from England and the Canterbury monks removed as well as confiscating their land. Unable to change King John's mind the Pope ordered an Interdict be served on England preventing church services and the burial of the dead in sacred land. This was served in March of 1208.
Related Episodes
Excommunication of King John (click here)
Excommunication of King John (click here)
The First Barons' War (click here)
The First Barons' War (click here)
The Fourth Crusade (click here)
The Fourth Crusade (click here)
Family Tree Details
Innocent (III, Pope) (b.1160 - d.1216)
Innocent (III, Pope) (b.1160 - d.1216)
Timeline
1198(Age: 38yrs)
1199(Age: 39yrs)
The Order of the Teutonic Knights is approved by Pope Innocent III.
1203(Age: 43yrs)
Wulfstan, the bishop of Worcester Cathedral was canonised by Pope Innocent III after many miracles were reported to have taken place by his tomb. ¹
1206(Age: 46yrs)
Although the monks of Canterbury wanted their own sub-prior for the post of Archbishop and King John wanted John de Gray, Pope Innocent III chose Stephen Langton. Langton was originally from Lincolnshire but after teaching in Paris had moved to Rome where he had become a Cardinal. The monks of Canterbury accepted the Pope's decision and voted Langton in as the new Archbishop. King John did not agree. ¹
1207(Age: 47yrs)
Stephen Langton was chosen as Archbishop of Canterbury by Pope Innocent III. ¹
1209(Age: 49yrs)
King John is excommunicated by Pope Innocent III.
1211(Age: 51yrs)
Aug 30
In Northampton the Papal legates Pandulf and a Knight Templar met King John after his return from Wales. They had been sent by Pope Innocent in an attempt to get the English king to see the error of his ways but when they failed they served King John with his excommunication. For John this was a serious blow to his ability to rule the country as it absolved the King's subjects from their oaths of allegiance, gave the Barons reason to revolt and allowed the King of France to invade England to remove John from power. ¹
1212(Age: 52yrs)
The Pope's patience had run out and declared he would depose King John if he refused to back down. Pope Innocent wanted King Philippe of France to invade England and take the English throne. The French king began preparations for the invasion.
Taking the advice of William Marshal John accepted the demands of the Pope and that Stephen Langton should become Archbishop. A peace mission was also sent to the Pope. ¹
1213(Age: 53yrs)
After the failure of the Fourth Crusade, Pope Innocent III had a Crusade preached across Europe.
May 30
Rather than wait for the French to set sail, King John ordered his fleet to attack the French ships. The English fleet attacked the French fleet at Damme, Flanders near the town and port of Bruges. The French were taken by surprise and many of their ships were captured or destroyed. The French plans of invasion were destroyed. ¹
Jul 20
When King John agreed to meet Stephen Langton at Winchester he was absolved from excommunication. ¹
Cardinal Nicholas De Romanis arrived in England to prepare for the settlement of the Interdict. John's punishment was to pay 100,000 marks to compensate the church for the losses he had caused it. ¹
1214(Age: 54yrs)
Jun 29
At St. Paul's Cathedral, in London, the Interdict was finally lifted. ¹
1215(Age: 55yrs)
Hoping to gain the support of the Pope against the Barons, John took the oath to go on Crusade. ¹
Apr 1
Pope Innocent III sent a letter to the Barons asking them to halt their actions against King John. ¹
Pope Innocent III annulled the Magna Carta freeing King John from its limitations. The Pope annulled the charter on the grounds that the King only signed it because he was forced to and that the document was illegal. The Pope was prepared to support John against the rebel barons because he wanted him to take a key role in a new crusade.
In a letter dated 13th September 1215, King John sought help from Pope Innocent III in his fight against the barons. In the letter, written while the King stayed at Dover Castle, John stated that he believed the defence of England was ultimately the responsibility of God and the Pope. Pope Innocent III agreed and declared that the Magna Carta should be annulled.
1216(Age: 56yrs)
Pope Innocent III died on July 16th and two days later in Rome the Cardinals elected Honorius III as the new Pope.
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