Adrian V, Pope

ADRIAN V, Pope. - Pontiff in 1276. On the death of Innocent V a conclave followed in Rome, watched over by Charles of Anjou in his capacity as senator of the city; after eight days he put the cardinals on bread and water in order to hasten the decision, and so, through the influence of Cardinal Orsini, Ottobuono Fieschi was elected on 11 July 1276. He belonged to the well-known Genoese family of the counts of Lavagna and was a nephew of Innocent IV, who had created him cardinal deacon of St. Adrian; Clement IV had sent him to England to reconcile King Henry III and the barons, to preach the crusade and to collect the tithes. He was not, however, even a priest; immediately after his election as Pontiff, he left Rome and settled at Viterbo. The brevity of his government prevented him from carrying out any action of any importance; he nevertheless had time to abolish the severe regulations laid down by Gregory X concerning the conclave, which he himself had experienced. He died on 18 August of the same year and was buried in the church of the Dominicans at Viterbo. The citizens of that city applied, despite the suppression, the law on the conclave, and John XXI was elected.

Paolo Brezzi