See Also: Anacletus II(encyclopedia)

Anacletus II (sh)




orig. Pietro Pierleoni

born , Rome
died Jan. 25, 1138, Rome

Antipope (1130-38).

Named a cardinal at Rome in 1116, he was elected pope by a majority of cardinals in 1130, while a minority created a schism by choosing Innocent II. Anacletus forced the rival pope to flee to France, where Innocent was supported by a church council and, especially, by Bernard of Clairvaux. Innocent's supporters, including the Holy Roman and Byzantine emperors, invaded Italy in an unsuccessful effort to restore him. A second expedition in 1136 eroded support for Anacletus, who died before the issue was resolved by the submission of his successor to Innocent.