1154 papal election


The 1154 papal election followed the death of Pope Anastasius IV and resulted in the election of Pope Adrian IV, the only Englishman to become pope.

Election of Adrian IV

Pope Anastasius IV died on 3 December 1154 in Rome, at a very advanced age. The College of Cardinals assembled in Old St. Peter's Basilica on the next day to elect his successor.
On 4 December 1154 the cardinals unanimously elected Cardinal-Bishop of Albano Nicholas Breakspeare, former legate in Scandinavia. He took the name Adrian IV and was crowned on 5 December 1154 in the Vatican Basilica. He is the only English pope in history.

Cardinal-electors

There were probably 30 cardinals in the Sacred College of Cardinals at the beginning of December 1154, but it seems that no more than 25 participated in the election:
ElectorCardinalatial TitleElevatedElevatorNotes
Imar, O.S.B.ClunyBishop of Tusculum13 March 1142Innocent IIDean of the Sacred College of Cardinals
Guarino Foscari, Can.Reg.Bishop of Palestrina22 December 1144Lucius IICardinal-nephew
Nicholas Breakspeare, Can.Reg.Bishop of Albano16 December 1149Eugenius IIIElected Pope Adrian IV
Hugo, O.Cist.Bishop of Ostia e Velletri21 December 1151Eugenius III
Gregorio della SuburraBishop of Sabina1 March 1140Innocent II
Cencio de GregorioBishop of Porto e Santa Rufina2 March 1151Eugenius III
Guido FlorentinusPriest of S. Crisogono1139Innocent IIProtopriest
Ubaldo AllucingoliPriest of S. Prassede16 December 1138Innocent IIFuture Pope Lucius III
Ottaviano de MonticelliPriest of S. Cecilia25 February 1138Innocent IIFuture Antipope Victor IV (1159-1164)
ManfredoPriest of S. Sabina17 December 1143Celestine II
AribertoPriest of S. Anastasia17 December 1143Celestine II
Astaldo degli AstalliPriest of S. Prisca17 December 1143Celestine II
GiulioPriest of S. Marcello19 May 1144Lucius II
Ubaldo Caccianemici, Can.Reg.Priest of S. Croce in Gerusalemme19 May 1144Lucius IICardinal-nephew
Guido PuellaPriest of S. Pudenziana22 December 1144Lucius II
Bernard, Can.Reg.Priest of S. Clemente22 December 1144Lucius IIArchpriest of the Vatican Basilica
RolandoPriest of S. Marco and Chancellor of the Holy Roman Church22 September 1150Eugenius IIIFuture Pope Alexander III
GerardPriest of S. Stefano al Monte Celio2 March 1151Eugenius III
Giovanni da SutriPriest of SS. Giovanni e Paolo21 February 1152Eugenius IIIRector of Campagna
Enrico da Pisa, O.Cist.Priest of SS. Nereo ed Achilleo21 February 1152Eugenius III
Giovanni MorronePriest of SS. Silvestro e Martino23 May 1152Eugenius III
RodolfoDeacon of S. Lucia in Septisolio17 December 1143Celestine II
Guido di CremaDeacon of S. Maria in Portico21 September 1145Eugenius IIIFuture Antipope Paschal III
Giovanni Gaderisio, Can.Reg.Deacon of SS. Sergio e Bacco22 September 1150Eugenius III
Ottone da BresciaDeacon of S. Nicola in Carcere21 February 1152Eugenius III

Five electors were created by Pope Innocent II, four by Pope Celestine II, five by Pope Lucius II, 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 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:
ElectorCardinalatial TitleElevatedElevatorNotes
Rainaldo di Collemezzo, O.S.B.Cas.Priest of SS. Marcellino e Pietroca.1139-1141Innocent IIAbbot of Montecassino
Odone BonecaseDeacon of S. Giorgio in Velabro4 March 1132Innocent IIProtodeacon; papal legate in France
Giacinto BoboneDeacon of S. Maria in Cosmedin22 December 1144Lucius IIPapal legate in Spain; future Pope Celestine III
Gerard de NamurDeacon of S. Maria in Via Lata21 February 1152Eugenius IIIPapal legate in Germany
Ildebrando Grassi, Can.Reg.Deacon of S. Eustachio24 May 1152Eugenius IIIAdministrator of the see of Modena; Papal legate in Lombardy