X-Nico

7 unusual facts about Pope Nicholas II


Alberada of Buonalbergo

In 1058, after Pope Nicholas II strengthened existing canon law against consanguinity and on that basis, Guiscard repudiated Alberada in favour of a then-more advantageous marriage to Sichelgaita, the sister of Prince Gisulf II of Salerno.

Catacombs of San Valentino

These excavations permitted to ascertain that the martyr Valentine was not buried into the catacomb, but directly into a pit outside it; on this subdial grave Pope Jiulius I (336–352) built a former basilical structure, which was modified and enlarged by popes Honorius I (625–638) and Theodore I (642–649) and further restored in the following centuries until the last works carried out by Pope Nicholas II in mid-11th century.

Counts of Tusculum

In 1059 the papal-decree of Pope Nicholas II established new rules for the Papal election, therefore putting an end to the noble-papacy formula.

Pope Alexander II

The papal election of 1061, which Hildebrand had arranged in conformity with the papal decree of 1059 (see Pope Nicholas II), was not sanctioned by the imperial court of Germany.

Pope Nicholas II

The supporters of Nicholas II then gained control of Rome and forced Benedict X to flee to the castle of Gerard of Galeria.

An initial battle was fought in Campagna in early 1059, which was not wholly successful for Nicholas II.

But later that same year, his forces conquered Praeneste, Tusculum and Numentanum, and then attacked Galeria, forcing Benedict X to surrender and renounce the Papacy.


Godfrey III, Duke of Lower Lorraine

In January 1058, Leo de Benedicto Christiano threw open the city gates to him and Beatrice after the election of Pope Nicholas II.


see also