KnowraPope Adrian IVPope Adrian IVPope Adrian IV, born Nicholas Breakspear, was pope from 1154 to 1159 and the only Englishman to hold the office.BriefConnectFrederick Barbarossa: Frederick I, known as Barbarossa, was Holy Roman Emperor from 1155 until his death in 1190. Adrian crowned him emperor in 1155, but their alliance soon became strained.Papal States: The Papal States were territories in central Italy ruled by the pope as a temporal sovereign. Adrian governed amid a struggle to recover papal control of Rome and its surrounding lands.St Albans Abbey: St Albans Abbey was a Benedictine monastery and major medieval religious center in Hertfordshire, England. Nicholas Breakspear entered its community before pursuing a career on the Continent.Norman invasion of Ireland: The Norman invasion of Ireland began in 1169 with the arrival of Anglo-Norman forces. Henry II’s intervention came after Adrian’s alleged authorization of his Irish enterprise.Arnold of Brescia: Arnold of Brescia was a reform preacher who condemned clerical wealth and challenged papal authority. Adrian excommunicated Rome and helped bring about Arnold’s execution in 1155.Excommunication: Excommunication is a Christian church penalty that excludes a person from communion and certain religious privileges. Adrian used it against Rome during the conflict surrounding Arnold of Brescia.Canons Regular: Canons regular are clergy who live in community under a religious rule while serving pastoral duties. Breakspear belonged to this form of religious life before becoming pope.Papal bull: A papal bull is a formal document issued by a pope and authenticated with a lead seal. Laudabiliter is commonly described as a bull, though its documentary status is contested.Henry II of England: Henry II ruled England from 1154 to 1189 and expanded the Angevin domains. Adrian’s grant concerning Ireland later became part of Henry’s justification for intervention there.Holy Roman Emperor: The Holy Roman Emperor was the ruler who claimed leadership over the Holy Roman Empire. Adrian’s negotiations with Frederick concerned the balance between imperial and papal authority.Show all 20Linked from 2 pagesHertfordshireRelated: Born in Hertfordshire, he links the county to medieval European church history.Ramon Berenguer IV of BarcelonaRelated: Ramon's dealings with the papacy helped frame his claims and obligations as a ruler.