Adrian IV
At a glance:
- Series: Dictionary of World Biography: Middle Ages
- Categories: Religion, Ethics, Diplomacy, International Relations, Foreign Affairs
- Subcategories: Politicians, Diplomats, Christianity, Christians, Churches, Empires, Dynasties, Holy Roman Empire, Catholic Church, Catholics, Popes, Papacy, Cardinals
- Curriculum: British History, Medieval History/Middle Ages
Article abstract: Adrian IV served as Vatican diplomat to Scandinavia and later established policies and direction that led the medieval papacy to its thirteenth century zenith of power.
Early Life
Few details are available on the early years of Nicholas Breakspear, or Brekespere, who later became Pope Adrian IV. He was born early in the twelfth century in Hertfordshire, England, where his father, Robert, was a younger son of a landed family with no hope of receiving an inheritance. A man of meager resources, Robert married and had two sons. Discouraged...
[The entire page is 1947 words long]
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