URBAN I, POPE, saint. — He succeeded Callistus (d. 222) and governed the Church for about 8 years until 230. The author of the Liber Pontificalis describes him as a Roman, son of Pontianus, who died on 19 May and was buried in the cemetery of Praetextatus.
In fact, a certain Urban, described as a “confessor,” was buried in this cemetery; he is mentioned in the Codex of Monza and in the Itineraries of the 7th century (the Notitia ecclesiarum also adds “bishop,” perhaps following the tradition of the Liber Pontificalis). The Pope was buried in the cemetery of Callistus; in the crypt of the popes, De Rossi found a fragment of a sarcophagus lid bearing the letters OPPIANO E (PASSO
URBAN I - URBAN III
906
Montfort, he hesitated to pronounce the excommunication. The Pope’s skill was shown in the way he undermined the intrigues of the antipope with the Greek Church. In short, Urban II won the sympathy of princes, which enabled him to attack Henry IV. At first, the struggle seemed doomed to failure. The offensive launched by the Emperor against the possessions of Countess Matilda in northern Italy appeared to herald victory; as castles fell one after another into imperial hands, the imperial troops seemed ready to invade Tuscany. Urban II could not count on the help of the Normans against the invaders and had no other resource than to take refuge in southern Italy. But Countess Matilda saved the seemingly desperate situation with her courage; her resistance at the castle of Canossa forced Henry IV to retreat. Meanwhile, Rome remained occupied by the schismatics, and the Pope lacked the funds to bribe the captain guarding the Lateran. The necessary funds were provided by the abbot of Vendôme (1094), and the surrender of the Lateran was facilitated.
Victorious, Urban II completely changed his tactics. He reestablished permanent legates, convened synodal assemblies, and restored ecclesiastical discipline. In the autumn, he excommunicated Henry IV, Clement III, and even the King of France (16 Oct. 1094). He himself traveled through France to ensure the implementation of the reforms proclaimed at the Council of Piacenza. Then, on 18 Nov. 1095, he opened a great assembly of bishops of Christendom at Clermont. After promulgating legislation consonant with Gregorian ideals, the Pope suddenly took a decisive step: since the lords continued to wage fratricidal wars, he launched the conquest of the Holy Land. Thus was born in the West the idea of the Crusade. He did not entrust its command to a king, but to Adhemar of Le Puy, bishop of Puy, a man well acquainted with Palestine, acting as his legate. Urban II went further: he himself organized the expedition, negotiated with the Genoese to provide ships for the crossing, and traveled through southern France and Italy, preaching and having the Crusade preached. He died on 29 July 1099, in the Pierleone Palace, near the church of St. Nicholas in Carcere, without having learned of the capture of Jerusalem (15 July). His cult was confirmed by Leo XIII on 14 July 1881.