The papal election

Papal conclave

A papal conclave is a meeting of the College of Cardinals convened to elect a Bishop of Rome, who then becomes the Pope during a period of vacancy in the papal office. The Pope is considered by Roman Catholics to be the apostolic successor of Saint Peter and earthly head of the Roman Catholic Church...

of 1154 followed the death of Pope Anastasius IV

Pope Anastasius IV

Pope Anastasius IV , born Corrado Demetri della Suburra, was Pope from 1153 to 1154.-Early life:He was a Roman, son of Benedictus de Suburra, probably of the family of Demetri, and became a secular clerk. He was created cardinal-priest of S. Pudenziana by Pope Paschal II no later than in 1114...

 and resulted in the election of Pope Adrian IV

Pope Adrian IV

Pope Adrian IV , born Nicholas Breakspear or Breakspeare, was Pope from 1154 to 1159.Adrian IV is the only Englishman who has occupied the papal chair...

, the only Englishman

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

 to become pope

Pope

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...

.

Election of Adrian IV

Pope Anastasius IV died on December 3, 1154, at Rome

Rome

Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...

, at a very advanced age. The College of Cardinals

College of Cardinals

The College of Cardinals is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church.A function of the college is to advise the pope about church matters when he summons them to an ordinary consistory. It also convenes on the death or abdication of a pope as a papal conclave to elect a successor...

 assembled in the Vatican Basilica on the next day to elect his successor.
On December 4, 1154, the cardinals unanimously elected Cardinal-Bishop of Albano

Roman Catholic Suburbicarian Diocese of Albano

The Diocese of Albano is a suburbicarian see of the Roman Catholic Church in a diocese in Italy, comprising seven towns in the Province of Rome...

 Nicholas Breakspeare, former legate

Papal legate

A papal legate – from the Latin, authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic Church. He is empowered on matters of Catholic Faith and for the settlement of ecclesiastical matters....

 in Scandinavia

Scandinavia

Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...

 (1152-1153). He took the name Adrian IV and was crowned

Papal Coronation

A papal coronation was the ceremony of the placing of the Papal Tiara on a newly elected pope. The first recorded papal coronation was that of Pope Celestine II in 1143. Soon after his coronation in 1963, Pope Paul VI abandoned the practice of wearing the tiara. His successors have chosen not to...

 on December 5, 1154 in the Vatican Basilica. He is the only English pope in history.

Cardinal-electors

There were probably 31 cardinals in the Sacred College of Cardinals at the beginning of December 1154, but it seems that no more than 26 (perhaps even fewer) participated in the election:

Elector	Cardinalatial Title	Elevated	Elevator	Notes
Icmar Icmar of Tusculum Icmar was a French cardinal.He entered the Benedictine order of the Congregation of Cluny in the monastery of Saint-Martin des Champes in Paris; for a some time, he was a monk at Cluny. Later, he became abbot of the monastery S. Maria Nuova in the diocese of Poitiers. He was a friend of St... , O.S.B.Cluny	Bishop of Tusculum	13 March 1142	Innocent II	Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals
Guarino Foscari, Can.Reg.	Bishop of Palestrina	22 December 1144	Lucius II	Cardinal-nephew Cardinal-nephew A cardinal-nephew is a cardinal elevated by a Pope who is that cardinal's uncle, or, more generally, his relative. The practice of creating cardinal-nephews originated in the Middle Ages, and reached its apex during the 16th and 17th centuries. The word nepotism originally referred specifically to...
Nicholas Breakspeare Pope Adrian IV Pope Adrian IV , born Nicholas Breakspear or Breakspeare, was Pope from 1154 to 1159.Adrian IV is the only Englishman who has occupied the papal chair... , Can.Reg.	Bishop of Albano	16 December 1149	Eugenius III	Elected Pope Adrian IV Pope Adrian IV Pope Adrian IV , born Nicholas Breakspear or Breakspeare, was Pope from 1154 to 1159.Adrian IV is the only Englishman who has occupied the papal chair...
Hugo Hugo of Ostia Hugo was a French Cistercian and Cardinal.He was born probably in the diocese of Beauvais and entered the order of Cistercians in Clairvaux. In 1147 he became abbot of Trois-Fontaines. Pope Eugenius III created him Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia in the consistory celebrated probably in December 1151... , O.Cist.	Bishop of Ostia e Velletri	21 December 1151	Eugenius III
Gregorio della Suburra	Bishop of Sabina	1 March 1140	Innocent II
Cencio de Gregorio	Bishop of Porto e Santa Rufina	2 March 1151	Eugenius III
Guido Florentinus	Priest of S. Crisogono	1139	Innocent II	Protopriest Protopriest Protopriest — in the College of Cardinals, is the first Cardinal-Priest in the order of precedence. This title is always attached to the most senior Cardinal Priest according to date of his creation. From the 17th century until the end of 19th century Protopriest usually opted for the titulus San...
Ubaldo Allucingoli Pope Lucius III Pope Lucius III , born Ubaldo, was pope from 1 September 1181 to his death.A native of the independent republic of Lucca, he was born ca. 1100 as Ubaldo, son of Orlando. He is commonly referred to as a member of the aristocratic family of Allucingoli, but this is not proven...	Priest of S. Prassede	16 December 1138	Innocent II	Future Pope Lucius III Pope Lucius III Pope Lucius III , born Ubaldo, was pope from 1 September 1181 to his death.A native of the independent republic of Lucca, he was born ca. 1100 as Ubaldo, son of Orlando. He is commonly referred to as a member of the aristocratic family of Allucingoli, but this is not proven...  (1181-1185)
Ottaviano de Monticelli Antipope Victor IV (1159-1164) Victor IV , born Octavian or Octavianus: Ottaviano dei Crescenzi Ottaviani di Monticelli, was the cardinal priest of Santa Cecilia before he was elected as a Ghibelline antipope in 1159, following the death of Pope Adrian IV and the election of Alexander III...	Priest of S. Cecilia	25 February 1138	Innocent II	Future Antipope Victor IV (1159-1164) Antipope Victor IV (1159-1164) Victor IV , born Octavian or Octavianus: Ottaviano dei Crescenzi Ottaviani di Monticelli, was the cardinal priest of Santa Cecilia before he was elected as a Ghibelline antipope in 1159, following the death of Pope Adrian IV and the election of Alexander III...
Manfredo	Priest of S. Sabina	17 December 1143	Celestine II
Ariberto	Priest of S. Anastasia	17 December 1143	Celestine II
Astaldo degli Astalli	Priest of S. Prisca	17 December 1143	Celestine II
Giulio	Priest of S. Marcello	19 May 1144	Lucius II
Ubaldo Caccianemici Ubaldo Caccianemici Ubaldo Caccianemici was an Italian cardinal and cardinal-nephew of Pope Lucius II, his cousin who elevated him in May or June 1144.... , Can.Reg.	Priest of S. Croce in Gerusalemme	19 May 1144	Lucius II	Cardinal-nephew Cardinal-nephew A cardinal-nephew is a cardinal elevated by a Pope who is that cardinal's uncle, or, more generally, his relative. The practice of creating cardinal-nephews originated in the Middle Ages, and reached its apex during the 16th and 17th centuries. The word nepotism originally referred specifically to...
Guido Puella	Priest of S. Pudenziana	22 December 1144	Lucius II
Jordan, O.Carth.	Priest of S. Susanna	22 December 1144	Lucius II	He may have died shortly after June 11, 1154
Bernard, Can.Reg.	Priest of S. Clemente	22 December 1144	Lucius II	Archpriest of the Vatican Basilica
Rolando Pope Alexander III Pope Alexander III , born Rolando of Siena, was Pope from 1159 to 1181. He is noted in history for laying the foundation stone for the Notre Dame de Paris.-Church career:...	Priest of S. Marco and Chancellor of the Holy Roman Church	22 September 1150	Eugenius III	Future Pope Alexander III Pope Alexander III Pope Alexander III , born Rolando of Siena, was Pope from 1159 to 1181. He is noted in history for laying the foundation stone for the Notre Dame de Paris.-Church career:...  (1159-1181)
Gerard	Priest of S. Stefano al Monte Celio	2 March 1151	Eugenius III
Giovanni da Sutri	Priest of SS. Giovanni e Paolo	21 February 1152	Eugenius III	Rector of Campagna
Errico Moricotti, O.Cist.	Priest of SS. Nereo ed Achilleo	21 February 1152	Eugenius III
Giovanni Morrone	Priest of SS. Silvestro e Martino	23 May 1152	Eugenius III
Rodolfo	Deacon of S. Lucia in Septisolio	17 December 1143	Celestine II
Guido di Crema Antipope Paschal III Antipope Paschal III was Antipope from 1164 to 20 September 1168.His real name was Guido of Crema. Paschal III was the second of the antipopes to challenge the reign of Pope Alexander III. In 1164, a small number of cardinals who had elected Victor IV met again to vote Paschal III as his successor...	Deacon of S. Maria in Portico	21 September 1145	Eugenius III	Future Antipope Paschal III Antipope Paschal III Antipope Paschal III was Antipope from 1164 to 20 September 1168.His real name was Guido of Crema. Paschal III was the second of the antipopes to challenge the reign of Pope Alexander III. In 1164, a small number of cardinals who had elected Victor IV met again to vote Paschal III as his successor...  (1164-1168)
Giovanni da Napoli, Can.Reg.	Deacon of SS. Sergio e Bacco	22 September 1150	Eugenius III
Ottone da Brescia	Deacon of S. Nicola in Carcere	21 February 1152	Eugenius III

Five electors were created by Pope Innocent II

Pope Innocent II

Pope Innocent II , born Gregorio Papareschi, was pope from 1130 to 1143, and was probably one of the clergy in personal attendance on the antipope Clement III .-Early years:...

, four by Pope Celestine II

Pope Celestine II

Pope Celestine II , born Guido di Castello, was pope from 1143 to 1144.-Early life:Guido di Castello, possibly the son of a local noble, Niccolo di Castello, was born either in Città di Castello, situated in Paterna Santa Felicita upon the Apennines, or at Macerata in the March of Ancona.Guido had...

, six by Pope Lucius II

Pope Lucius II

Pope Lucius II , born Gherardo Caccianemici dal Orso, was pope from March 9, 1144, until his death Feb 15, 1145. His pontificate was notable for the unrest in Rome associated with the Commune of Rome, and its attempts to wrest control of the city from the papacy.-Early life:Gherardo Caccianemici...

, eleven by Pope Eugenius III.

Absentees

At least five cardinals did not participate in this election. Cardinal Giacinto Bobone is known to have been in Spain

Spain

Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

 at that time; he served there as papal legate from the spring of 1154 until the end of 1155. Cardinal Odone Bonecase was employed as legate in France in 1154/55. Gerard de Namur was legate in Germany, while Ildebrando in Lombardy. Abbot Rainaldo of Montecassino was not a resident of Roman Curia:

Elector	Cardinalatial Title	Elevated	Elevator	Notes
Rainaldo di Collemezzo, O.S.B.Cas.	Priest of SS. Marcellino e Pietro	ca.1139-1141	Innocent II	Abbot of Montecassino (external cardinal External cardinal External cardinal is a term used to describe an opposite to the "curial cardinal," with reference to the certain category of the members of the College of Cardinals in the late Middle Ages... )
Odone Bonecase	Deacon of S. Giorgio in Velabro	4 March 1132	Innocent II	Protodeacon Protodeacon Protodeacon derives from the Greek proto- meaning 'first' and diakonos, which is a standard ancient Greek word meaning "servant", "waiting-man," "minister" or "messenger." The word in English may refer to various clergymen, depending upon the usage of the particular church in question.-Eastern... ; papal legate in France
Giacinto Bobone Pope Celestine III Pope Celestine III , born Giacinto Bobone, was elected Pope on March 21, 1191, and reigned until his death. He was born into the noble Orsini family in Rome, though he was only a cardinal deacon before becoming Pope...	Deacon of S. Maria in Cosmedin	22 December 1144	Lucius II	Papal legate in Spain; future Pope Celestine III Pope Celestine III Pope Celestine III , born Giacinto Bobone, was elected Pope on March 21, 1191, and reigned until his death. He was born into the noble Orsini family in Rome, though he was only a cardinal deacon before becoming Pope...  (1191-98)
Gerard de Namur Gerard de Namur Gerard de Namur was a cardinal born in Namur in the modern-day Belgium. In older historiography he is wrongly identified as Gerardo Caccianemici, nephew of Pope Lucius II....	Deacon of S. Maria in Via Lata	21 February 1152	Eugenius III	Papal legate in Germany
Ildebrando Grassi, Can.Reg.	Deacon of S. Eustachio	24 May 1152	Eugenius III	Administrator of the see of Modena; Papal legate in Lombardy

Sources

• Salvador Miranda Papal election of 1154
• Ian Stuart Robinson, The Papacy 1073-1198. Continuity and Innovation, Cambridge University Press 1990
• Philipp Jaffé, Regesta pontificum Romanorum ab condita Ecclesia ad annum post Christum natum MCXCVIII, Berlin 1851
• Johannes M. Brixius, Die Mitglieder des Kardinalkollegiums von 1130-1181, Berlin 1912
• Barbara Zenker, Die Mitglieder des Kardinalkollegiums von 1130 bis 1159, Würzburg 1964