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'Pope Lucius III' (
1097–
November 25,
1185), born 'Ubaldo Allucingoli', was
pope from
September 6,
1181 to his death.
A native of the independent republic of
Lucca, he joined the
Cistercian order. He was named
Cardinal Priest of
Santa Prassede by
Pope Innocent II (1130–1143) and
Cardinal Bishop of Ostia and Velletri by
Pope Adrian IV (1154–1159). He was one of the most influential cardinals under
Pope Alexander III (1159–1181).
After being elected Pope, he lived at
Rome from November 1181 to March 1182, but dissensions in the city compelled him to pass the remainder of his pontificate in exile, mainly at
Velletri,
Anagni and
Verona.
He disputed with the Emperor
Frederick I (1152–1190) the disposal of the territories of the late Countess
Matilda of Tuscany. The controversy over the succession to the inheritance of the Countess had been left unsettled by the peace of 1177, and the Emperor proposed in 1182 that the
Curia should renounce its claim, receiving in exchange two-tenths of the imperial income from Italy, one-tenth for the Pope and the other tenth for the cardinals. Lucius consented neither to this proposition nor to another compromise suggested by Frederick I the next year; nor did a personal discussion between the two potentates at Verona in October 1184, lead to any definite result.
Meantime other causes of disagreement appeared, in the Pope's refusal to comply with Frederick I's wishes as to the regulation of German episcopal elections which had taken place during the schism, and especially as to the contested election to the
see of
Treves in 1183.
In pursuance of his anti-imperial policy, he declined finally in 1185 to crown
Henry VI (1190–1197) as Frederick I's destined successor, and the breach between the Empire and the Curia became wider on questions of Italian politics.
In November 1184 he held a synod at Verona which condemned the
Cathars,
Paterines,
Waldensians and
Arnoldists, and
anathematized all those declared as
heretics and their abettors. In order to persecute them effectively, he formally started
the Inquisition.
In 1185 preparations began for the
Third Crusade in answer to the appeals of
Baldwin IV of Jerusalem (1174–1185). Before they were completed, Lucius died in Verona.
References
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