European Kingdoms

Popes / Bishops of Rome
AD 42 - Present Day

Anti-Popes are shown in brackets, except for those during the Great Schism.

AD 42 - 67

St Peter

Disciple of Jesus. Papal founder member.

AD 67

Peter is crucified upside down by the Romans, in mockery of the execution of Jesus.

67 - 76

St Linus

76 - 88

St Anacletus

88 - 97

St Clement I

97 - 105

St Evaristus

105 - 115

St Alexander I

115 -125

St Sixtus I

125 - 136

St Telesphorus

136 - 140

St Hyginus

140 - 155

St Pius I

155 - 168

St Anicetus

168 - 175

St Soterus

175 - 189

St Eleutherius

189 - 199

St Victor I

199 - 217

St Zephirinus

217 - 222

St Calixtus I

[Hippolytus]

222 - 230

St Urban I

230 - 235

St Pontianus

235 - 236

St Anterius

236 - 251

St Fabianus

251 - 253

St Cornelius

[Novatianus]

253 - 254

St Lucius I

254 - 257

St Stephen I

257 - 259

St Sixtus II

259 - 269

St Dionysius

269 - 275

St Felix I

275 - 283

St Eutychianus

283 - 296

St Caius

296 - 304

St Marcellinus

304 - 308

Vacant.

308 - 309

St Marcellus I

309 - 311

St Eusebius

311 - 314

St Melchiades

313

The Roman emperor, Constantine the Great, confers imperial favour on the church with the Edict of Milan.

314

The Council of Arles, in which three bishops from Britannia participate: Eborius of York, Restitutus of London, and Adelphius of Lincoln or possibly Colchester.

314 - 336

St Sylvester I

First Bishop of Rome to use the title of Pope.

325

The first ecumenical Christian council, the 'First Council (Nicaea I)' is held by Constantine the Great in Rome. All of the fundamental basics of Catholic Christianity are debated and decided, including which books to include in the Bible (and which to discard because they do not fit the specific message to be broadcast by the church), the date for Easter, and the divinity of Jesus, whereas before he had usually been regarded by his followers as an ordinary (if special) man. Arianism is also condemned.

336 - 337

St Marcus (I)

337 - 352

St Julius I

352 - 366

Liberius

356

[Felix II]

359

The Council of Ariminum is held in Italy, and three bishops from Britannia participate.

366 - 384

St Damasus I

381

The Second Council (Constantinople I) is held. Arianism is condemned. The Council definitively establishes Roman Catholic orthodoxy.

[Ursinus]

384 - 399

St Siricius

399 - 401

St Anastasius I

401 - 417

St Innocent I

417 - 418

St Zosimus

418 - 422

St Boniface I

[Eulatius]

422 - 432

St Celestine I

431

The Third Council (Ephesus) is held. Nestorianism is condemned.

432 - 440

St Sixtus III

440 - 461

St Leo I

Met Attila, leader of the Huns to discuss peace.

451

The Fourth Council (Chalcedon) is held. Monophysitism is condemned. The fatal disaffection of Syria & Egypt is effected.

461 - 468

St Hilarus (Hilary)

468 - 483

St Simplicius

483 - 492

St Felix III

492 - 496

St Gelasius I

Subject of Odoacer's Gothic kingdom.

496 - 498

St Anastasius II

498 - 514

St Symmachus

498

[Laurentius]

514 - 523

St Hormisdas

523 - 526

St John I

526 - 530

St Felix IV

530 - 533

Boniface II

533 - 535

John II

535 - 536

St Agapetus I

536 - 537

St Sylverius

537 - 556

Vigilius

553

The Fifth Council (Constantinople II) is held. Monophysitism is condemned again.

556 - 561

Pelagius I

561 - 575

John III

575 - 579

Benedict I

575 - 579

Benedict had been born into the Roman nobility in 480. He lives as a mountain hermit before founding the famous Benedictine monastery at Monte Cassino in Italy. He founds eleven more monasteries and survives an assassination attempt by blessing a poisoned cup. Elected as the 62nd Pope, his four year reign is troubled by war and famine.

579 - 590

Pelagius II

590 - 604

St Gregory I the Great

597

Augustine is sent by Pope Gregory to England to establish the Catholic church and Christianise the Anglo-Saxons. He is cautiously received in Kent, thanks to King Ethelbert's Christian wife, and establishes the archbishopric at Canterbury.

604 - 607

Sabinianus

607 - 608

Boniface III

608 - 615

St Boniface IV

615 - 619

St Deusdedit

619 - 625

Boniface V

625 - 638

Honorius I

638 - 640

Vacant

640

Severinus

640 - 642

John IV

642 - 649

Theodore I

649 - 654

St Martin I

Arrested and died in exile in Crimea.

654 - 657

St Eugenius I

657 - 672

St Vitalianus / Vitalian

664

An English priest, Wighard, is selected to be archbishop of Canterbury by the new king of Kent, Egbert I, perhaps with support from Oswiu of Northumbria. He is sent to Rome to receive consecration from Pope Vitalianus, but is killed by bubonic plague before the act can be carried out.

672 - 676

Adeodatus

676 - 678

Domnus (I)

678 - 682

St Agathon

680 - 681

The Sixth Council (Constantinople III) is held. Monotheletism is condemned.

682 - 684

St Leo II

684 - 685

St Benedict II

685 - 686

John V

686 - 687

Conon

687 - 701

St Sergius I

His arrest was ordered but the Italian garrison refused.

687

[Paschal]

687

[Theodorus]

701 - 705

John VI

705 - 708

John VII

708

Sisinnius

708 - 715

Constantine I

Last Pope to visit Byzantine Constantinople.

715 - 731

St Gregory II

731 - 741

St Gregory III

Appealed to the Franks for help against Lombards.

741 - 752

St Zachary / Zacharius

751

The Carolingian mayor of the palace, Pepin III, deposes the last Merovingian king with the blessing of the Pope, and takes the throne for himself.

752

Stephen II

752 - 757

Stephen III

754

Pepin III, king of the Carolingian Franks, donates the Byzantine Exarchate of Ravenna to the Pope as the Papal States.

757 - 768

St Paul I

767

[Constantine II]

[Philip]

768 - 772

Stephen IV

772 - 795

Adrian I / Hadrian I

787

The Seventh Council (Nicaea II) is held. Iconoclasm is condemned under the guidance of Byzantine Empress Irene.

795 - 816

St Leo III

800

Leo III crowns Charlemagne, king of the Carolingian Franks, Roman Emperor which gives the Papacy a basis for claiming sovereign rights over the later Holy Roman Emperors.

816 - 817

Stephen V

817 - 824

St Paschal I

824 - 827

Eugenius II

100th (Official) Pope.

827

Valentinus

827 - 844

Gregory IV

844 - 847

Sergius II

847 - 855

St Leo IV

855 - 858

Benedict III

855

[Anastasius]

858 - 867

St Nicholas I

867 - 872

Adrian II / Hadrian II

869 - 870

The Eighth Council (Constantinople IV) is held. This patches up the filioque and other differences, is later repudiated by the East, and is the last Oecumenical Council recognised by the West which includes the Eastern Church.

872 - 882

John VIII

882 - 884

Martin II

884 - 885

St Adrian III / Hadrian III

885 - 891

Stephen VI

891 - 896

Fromosus

896

Boniface VI

896 - 897

Stephen VII

897

Romanus

897 - 898

Theodore II

898 - 900

John IX

900 - 903

Benedict IV

903

Leo V

903 - 904

Christopher

904 - 911

Sergius III

911 - 913

Anastasius III

913 - 914

Lando

914 - 928

John X

He crowned Tomislav, first king of Croatia.

928

Leo VI

928 - 931

Stephen VIII

931 - 936

John XI

936 - 939

Leo VII

939 - 942

Stephen IX

942 - 946

Martin III

946 - 955

Agapetus II

955 - 964

John XII

961

The Saxon king, Otto, is crowned Roman Emperor after he defeats the Magyars.

963

[Leo VIII]

964 - 965

Benedict V

965 - 973

John XIII

973 - 974

Benedict VI

Strangled by a mob.

974

[Boniface VII]

974

[Domnus II]

974 - 983

Benedict VII

983 - 985

John XIV

985 - 996

John XV

996 - 999

Gregory V

997

St Adalbert of Prague is sent by the Pope into Prussian lands to convert the pagans on the Baltic coast.

996

[John XVI]

999 - 1003

Sylvester II

1003 - 1004

John XVII

1004 - 1009

John XVIII

1009 - 1012

Sergius IV

1012 - 1024

Benedict VIII

1024 - 1032

John XIX

1025

The Pope condones the elevation of the duchy of Poland to a kingdom.

1032 - 1044

Benedict IX

First reign of three.

1044

[Sylvester III]

1045

Benedict IX

Second reign of three

1045 - 1046

Gregory VI

1046 - 1048

Clement II

1047

Benedict IX

Third reign of three.

1048 - 1049

Damasus II

1049 - 1055

St Leo IX

1053 - 1054

In 1053 the Pope is defeated and captured by the Count of Apulia, while the following year there is schism between the Eastern (Orthodox) and Western (Catholic) Churches based at Byzantium and Rome respectively.

1055 - 1057

Victor II

1057 - 1058

Stephen X

1058 - 1059

Benedict X

1059 - 1061

Nicholas II

1061

A decree is proclaimed for the election of Popes by a college of Cardinals. This is the beginning of the Papal heyday.

1061 - 1073

Alexander II

[Honorius (II)]

1073 - 1085

St Gregory VII

1074

As part of his reformation of the Catholic church, Gregory VII excommunicates married priests in a bid to impose strict clerical celibacy.

1076 - 1122

A long-running investiture controversy is triggered when the pope challenges the authority of European monarchs to control appointments (investitures) for church officials in their own countries (such as deciding who to appoint as a bishop, for example). It is another step in restoring the power of the church and one that is not resolved until a compromise is reached under the terms of the Concordat of Worms in 1122, but the Holy Roman Empire, the main papal opponent in the dispute, is permanently weakened by it. Mostly notably, it removes once and for all the right of the emperor to select the pope. Instead, the College of Cardinals handles this duty, a process which survives to the present.

1080

[Clement (III)]

1085 - 1086

Vacant

1086 - 1088

Victor III

1088 - 1099

Urban II

1095 - 1099

Urban II proclaims the First Crusade to reclaim sacred Christian sites from Islamic hands. Starting from 1096, the First Crusade defeats the Seljuqs, and captures Jerusalem.

1099 - 1118

Paschal II

c.1117

Following the death of Henry of Portugal, Paschal II hails his young widow as queen of Portugal for her defence of Coimbra. During his term of office, Paschal also appoints the first bishop of America, or Vinland.

1102

[Albert]

1105

[Sylvester]

1118 - 1119

Gelasius II

1118

[Gregory (VIII)]

1119 - 1124

Calixtus II

1123

The First Lateran Council is held, confirming the terms of the Concordat of Worms of 1122.

[Celestine]

1124 - 1130

Honorius II

1130 - 1143

Innocent II

1139

The Second Lateran Council is held. Benevento becomes an outlying possession of the Papal States.

[Anacletus II]

1138

[Victor IV]

1143 - 1144

Celestine II

1144 - 1145

Lucius II

1145 - 1153

Eugenius III

1147 - 1149

The Second Crusade.

1153 - 1154

Anastasius IV

1154 - 1159

Adrian IV / Hadrian IV

The only English pope, Nicholas Breakspear.

1159 - 1181

Alexander III

1177

Venice offers hospitality to Pope Alexander III and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, and the republic arbitrates the peace.

1179

The Third Lateran Council of the Catholic church calls a crusade against Cathar heretics in Toulouse.

1159

[Victor IV]

1164

[Paschal III]

1168

[Calixtus (III)]

[Innocent (III)]

1181 - 1185

Lucius III

1185 - 1187

Urban III

1187

Gregory VIII

1187 - 1191

Clement III

1189 - 1192

The Third Crusade sees Cyprus conquered from the Byzantine empire.

1191 - 1198

Celestine III

1198 - 1216

Innocent III

1200

In the Hospital of the Holy Ghost in Sassia in Rome, Innocent III officially establishes the Roman Catholic religious order known as the Order of the Holy Ghost, founded by Guy de Montpellier in Provence for running hospitals throughout Europe. One of the Order's buildings, the Church of the Holy Ghost in Tallinn, Estonia, survives to this day.

1202 - 1204

The Fourth Crusade witnesses the capture of Constantinople by Crusaders in the employ of Venice, causing the first break in the line of Eastern Roman (Byzantine) emperors.

1206

The Pope recognises the Danish claim to the overlordship of North Estonia and the islands. He also quashes the election of Reginald to the position of archbishop of Canterbury in England.

1209 - 1229

The Pope announces a crusade against the Albigensian Cathar and Vaudois 'heresy' in the Languedoc region of southern France. In 1226, Louis VIII of France joins in, invading the Languedoc and campaigning against the towns and lords who support the Albigensians.

1215

The Fourth Lateran Council is held.

1216 - 1227

Honorius III

1217 - 1221

The Fifth Crusade (First Expedition).

1227 - 1241

Gregory IX

1228 - 1229

The Fifth Crusade (Second Expedition). HRE Frederick II is excommunicated both for not going on the Crusade and then for going on one and negotiating the possession of Jerusalem (until 1244).

1238

North Estonia is returned to the Danes under the terms of the Treaty of Stensby, which is mediated by the Pope.

1241

Celestine IV

1241 - 1243

Vacant.

1243 - 1254

Innocent IV

1243

The Papal legate, William of Modena, oversees the creation of the three dioceses of Culm, Ermland, and Pomesania within the recently conquered Prussian territories which are now governed by the Teutonic Knights.

1248 - 1254

The Sixth Crusade under St Louis IX of France.

1245

The First Council of Lyon is held.

1254 - 1261

Alexander IV

1261 - 1265

Urban IV

1265 - 1269

Clement IV

1269 - 1271

Vacant.

1271 - 1276

Gregory X

1270

The Seventh Crusade under St Louis IX of France gets no further than Tunisia.

1274

The Second Council of Lyon is held.

1276

Innocent V

1276

Adrian V

1276 - 1277

John XXI

1277 - 1281

Nicholas III

1281 - 1285

Martin IV

1285 - 1288

Honorius IV

1288 - 1292

Nicholas IV

1292 - 1294

Vacant.

1294

St Celestine V

1294 - 1303

Boniface VIII

Made the most exaggerated claims for the mediaeval Papacy. Humiliated by Philip the Fair of France.

1303 - 1305

Benedict XI

Lines of Popes reside at Avignon, Rome, and Pisa during the Babylonian Captivity and the Great Schism.

1305 - 1316

Clement V

(Avignon).

1311 - 1312

The Council of Vienna is held.

1316

Vacant.

1316 - 1334

John XXII

(Avignon).

1314

Edward II's defeat at Bannockburn by the Scottish under Robert the Bruce sees the start of a period in which the certainty of Scottish independence from England become more and more established. The drawing up of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320 involves Pope John XXII in negotiations.

[Nicholas (V)]

(Rome).

1334 - 1342

Benedict XII

(Avignon).

1342 - 1352

Clement VI

(Avignon).

1352 - 1362

Innocent VI

(Avignon).

1362 - 1370

Urban V

(Avignon).

1370 - 1378

Gregory XI

(Rome). 200th (Official) Pope.

1378 - 1389

Urban VI

(Rome).

1378

An anti-Pope is elected at Avignon. This is the start of the Great Schism.

1378 - 1389

[Clement (VII)]

(Avignon).

1389 - 1404

Boniface IX

(Rome).

1394 - 1423

[Benedict (XIII)]

(Avignon).

1404 - 1406

Innocent VII

(Rome).

1409

The Council of Pisa adds a third Pope based at Pisa.

1409 - 1410

Alexander V

(Pisa).

1406 - 1415

Gregory XII

(Rome).

1410 - 1415

[John (XXIII)]

(Pisa).

1414 - 1418

The Council of Constance is called by Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund. A Papal interregnum in 1415-1417 resolves the Great Schism, but the principle of the Council is a threat to Papal authority.

1417 - 1431

Martin V

1423 - 1429

[Clement (VIII)]

(Avignon).

1431 - 1447

Eugenius IV

1431 - 1445

Council of Basil.

1439 - 1449

[Felix (V)]

Formerly Duke Amadeus VIII of Savoy (1416-1434).

1447 - 1455

Nicholas V

The Renaissance begins in this period.

1455 - 1458

Calixtus III

1458 - 1464

Pius II

1464 - 1471

Paul II

1471 - 1484

Sixtus IV

1484 - 1492

Innocent VIII

1492 - 1503

Alexander VI Borgia

Formerly Bishop of Urgel, Joint Sovereign of Andorra.

1495

An alliance is formed between Naples, the pope, Milan, Venice, and the Emperor in order to defend Italy from Charles VIII of France.

1503

Pius III

1503 - 1513

Julius II

1509

The League of Cambrai is formed with France, Castile, Hungary, the Papal States, the Holy Roman Empire, and Ferrara against Venice. Venice is defeated at Agnadello.

1512

The archbishopric of Warmia becomes exempt, removing it from regional Polish control and placing it under the direct jurisdiction of the Pope.

1512 - 1517

Julius II recovers by combat all of the Papal States. Fifth Lateran Council. At the end of this, in 1517, German theologian Martin Luther publishes his '95 theses', sparking the Protestant Reformation.

1513 - 1522

Leo X Medici

The Reformation begins at this time.

1521

The Edict of Worms on 25 May condemns Protestant Reformation leader Martin Luther as an outlaw and heretic. Leo X grants Henry VIII of England the title 'Defender of the Faith' for a tract defending Catholicism.

1522 - 1523

Adrian VI

1523 - 1534

Clement VII

1527

Rome is sacked by an Imperial / Spanish army.

The Habsburg army sacked Rome in 1527, painted by Johannes Lingelbach

1534 - 1550

Paul III

1545 - 1563

The Council of Trent is convened, being the nineteenth Ecumenical Council. The church changes its view on the existence of a soul in women, now allowing for such a possibility. Previously the claim, 'mulier tota in utero', - the woman is totally compromised within her uterus - had made it clear what the role of women should be, including the wife of a king: to ensure the existence of descendants.

1550 - 1555

Julius III

1555

Marcellus II

1555 - 1559

Paul IV

1559 - 1566

Pius IV

1566 - 1572

St Pius V

1571

The 'Holy League' of the Papal States, Spain and Venice routs the Ottoman navy at the Battle of Lepanto, considered to be a great naval victory.

1572 - 1585

Gregory XIII

1582

On 5-15 October 1582 the Gregorian Calendar is instituted in Europe (but not in Great Britain until 1752, and in Russia after 1815).

1585 - 1590

Sixtus V

1590

Urban VII

1590 - 1591

Gregory XIV

1591 - 1592

Innocent IX

1592 - 1605

Clement VIII

1605

Leo XI

1605 - 1621

Paul V

1621 - 1623

Gregory XV

1623 - 1644

Urban VIII

1633

Astronomer Galileo Galilei is tried before the Inquisition for teaching that the Earth orbits the sun.

1644 - 1655

Innocent X

1655 - 1667

Alexander VII

1667 - 1670

Clement IX

1670 - 1676

Clement X

1676 - 1689

Innocent XI

1689 - 1691

Alexander VIII

1691 - 1700

Innocent XII

1700 - 1721

Clement XI

1721 - 1724

Innocent XIII

1724 - 1730

Benedict XIII

1730 - 1740

Clement XII

1740 - 1758

Benedict XIV

1758 - 1769

Clement XIII

1769 - 1775

Clement XIV

1775 - 1800

Pius VI

1800 - 1823

Pius VII

1801

Concordat with Napoleon I.

1823 - 1829

Leo XII

1829 - 1831

Pius VIII

1831 - 1846

Gregory XVI

1846 - 1878

Pius IX

1859 - 1870

Loss of Papal States.

1869 - 1870

First Vatican Council.

1878 - 1903

Leo XIII

1903 - 1914

St Pius X

1914 - 1922

Benedict XV

1914

Benedict attempts to suggest a truce at Christmas 1914. The Germans accept but he is generally snubbed by the Allies.

1922 - 1939

Pius XI

1929

Concordat with Mussolini.

1939 - 1958

Pius XII

1958 - 1963

John XXIII

1960

British archbishop of Canterbury Geoffrey Francis Fisher is the first incumbent of his office to visit the Pope since the Reformation.

1962 - 1965

Second Vatican Council.

1963 - 1978

Paul VI

1978

John Paul I

Became ill and died just months after investiture.

1978 - 2005

John Paul II

264th (Official) Pope. First Polish Pope. d.2 April aged 84.

2005 - Present

Benedict XVI

Conservative Bavarian cardinal John Ratzinger. Selected 19.04