Pope Alexander IV (1199 or ca. 1185 – May 25, 1261) was Pope from 1254 until his death.
Born as Rinaldo di Jenne, in Jenne, near Anagni, he was, on his mother's side, a member of the de' Conti di Segni family, the counts of Segni, like Pope Innocent III (1198-1216) and Pope Gregory IX (1227-1241). His uncle, Pope Gregory IX made him cardinal deacon and Protector of the Order of Franciscans in 1227, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church from 1227 un...
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Pope Alexander IV (1199 or ca. 1185 – May 25, 1261) was Pope from 1254 until his death.
Born as Rinaldo di Jenne, in Jenne, near Anagni, he was, on his mother's side, a member of the de' Conti di Segni family, the counts of Segni, like Pope Innocent III (1198-1216) and Pope Gregory IX (1227-1241). His uncle, Pope Gregory IX made him cardinal deacon and Protector of the Order of Franciscans in 1227, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church from 1227 until 1231 and Bishop of Ostia in 1231 (or 1232). He became Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals in 1244 (or in 1240). On the death of Pope Innocent IV (1243-1254) he was elected Pope at Naples on December 12, 1254.
Alexander IV succeeded Innocent IV as guardian of Conradin, the last of the Hohenstaufens, promising him protection; but in less than a fortnight he conspired against him and bitterly opposed Conradin's uncle Manfred. Alexander IV threatened excommunication and interdict against the party of Manfred, without effect. Nor could he...
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