CELESTINE III,
pope (1191-1198), Giacinto Bobone
Orsini, of that noble family, was elected pope 30th March 1191, being then only a deacon, received priest's orders on the 13th of April, ruled the church six years, nine months, and nine days (though believed to have been ninety when elected), died 8th
January 1198, and was buried at the Lateran. He crowned
the Emperor Henry VI on the day after his election with
a ceremonial symbolizing his absolute supremacy, as
described by Roger Hoveden, who is believed (more
reasonably as it would seem) by Baronius, but discredited
by Natalis Alexander. He subsequently excommunicated
the same Henry for wrongfullv keeping [Richard the Lionhearted]
?
in prison. In 1192 he confirmed the statutes of the
[Teutonic Order of Knights]
?. He would have resigned the
Papacy, and recommended a successor shortly before his
death, but was not suffered to do so by the cardinals.
initial text from the 9th edition (1876) of an old encyclopedia
- preceded by Pope Clement III (1187-1191)
- succeeded by Pope Innocent III (1198-1216)