ANASTASIUS IV. was pope from 1153 to 1154. He was a Roman
named Conrad, son of Benedictus, and at the time of his
election, on the 9th of July 1153, was cardinal bishop of
Sabina. He had taken part in the double election of 1130,
had been one of the most determined opponents of Anacletus II.
and, when Innocent II. fled to France, had been left behind
as his vicar in Italy. During his short pontificate, however,
he played the part of a peacemaker; he came to terms with the
emperor Frederick I. in the vexed question of the appointment
to the see of Magdeburg and closed the long quarrel, which
had raged through four pontificates, about the appointment of
William Fitzherbert (d. 1154)--commonly known as St William
of York--to the see of York, by sending him the pallium, in
spite of the continued opposition of the powerful Cistercian
order. Anastasius died on the 3rd of December 1154, and
was succeeded by Cardinal Nicholas of Albano as Adrian IV.
Initial text from 1911 encyclopedia -- Please update as needed
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