Pope Alexander I
Pope who faced a contested election and spent much of his pontificate outside Rome.
Pope Alexander I (died c. 115) served as bishop of Rome from approximately 108/109 until his death, which likely occurred between 116 and 119, according to the 2012 Annuario Pontificio. His pontificate is traditionally associated with several liturgical innovations, though scholars question their authenticity. The Liber Pontificalis credits him with inserting the narrative of the Last Supper (the Qui pridie) into the Mass liturgy, but this claim is widely rejected by modern experts, including the 1907 Catholic Encyclopedia, which views it as a later invention designed to project an image of early papal authority. Similarly, the introduction of blessed water mixed with salt for purifying Christian homes and the practice of mixing water with sacramental wine are attributed to him, though many sources consider these unlikely. Nevertheless, Alexander may have contributed meaningfully to the early development of Rome’s liturgical and administrative traditions. Later legends hold that under Emperor Hadrian, he miraculously converted the Roman governor Hermes along with his entire household of 1,500 people, as well as his jailer Quirinus of Neuss and Quirinus’s daughter Balbina. Alexander is also said to have had a vision of the infant Jesus. His remains were reportedly transferred to Freising, Bavaria, in 834. Some editions of the Roman Missal identified him with a martyr named Alexander commemorated on 3 May alongside Eventius and Theodulus, but nothing is known of these three beyond their names and burial site on the Via Nomentana. Pope John XXIII’s 1960 calendar revision removed any suggestion that this Alexander was a pope.
- born
- c. 1100/1105
- died
- 30 August 1181
- field
- Bishop of Rome (Pope)
- nationality
- Italian (Siena)
- known_for
- Contested election; spent much of his pontificate outside Rome; rejected Byzanti
Quick Facts
- Honorific Prefix
- Pope Saint
- Title
- Bishop of Rome
- Church
- Early Church
- Term Start
- 109
- Term End
- 119
- Predecessor
- Evaristus
- Successor
- Sixtus I
- Birth Place
- Rome, Italia, Roman Empire
- Other
- Alexander
- Feast Day
- 16 March (Greek Christianity) · 3 May (Tridentine calendar)
- Venerated
- Eastern Orthodox Church · Roman Catholic Church
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Rolando was born in Siena. From the 14th century, he was referred to as a member of the aristocratic family of Bandinelli, although this has not been proven. He was long thought to be the 12th-century canon lawyer and theologian Master Roland of Bologna, but John T. Noonan and Rudolf Weigand have shown this to be another Rolandus. Rolando probably studied at Bologna, where Robert of Torigni notes that he taught theology. In October 1150, Pope Eugene III created him Cardinal-Deacon of Santi Cosma e Damiano. Later he became Cardinal-Priest of St Mark. In 1153, he became papal chancellor and was the leader of the cardinals opposed to Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa. In 1156, he negotiated the Treaty of Benevento, which restored peaceful relations between Rome and the Kingdom of Sicily. At the diet of Besançon in October 1157, he and Cardinal Bernard of San Clemente delivered a papal message that seemed to claim that Frederick I was a papal vassal, resulting in a serious diplomatic incident.
Reader's Guide
Pope Adrian IV died 1 September 1159. On 7 September 1159, Rolando Bandinelli was elected pope and took the name Alexander III. A minority of the cardinals, however, elected the cardinal priest Octavian, who assumed the name of Victor IV and became Frederick's antipope. By 1160, faced with a papal schism, Alexander, and Victor, were summoned by Emperor Frederick to a council in Pavia. Alexander refused, stating a pope can only be judged by God. The council of Pavia met from 5 to 11 February and recognized Victor IV's election as pope. On 13 February, Victor IV excommunicated Alexander. Upon receiving the news on 24 March 1160, Alexander, who was at Anagni, excommunicated both Victor and Frederick. In 1161, King Géza II of Hungary signed an agreement and recognised Alexander III as the rightful pope. Other monarchs, such as the king of France and King Henry II of England, recognized his authority. Because of imperial strength in Italy, Alexander was forced to reside outside Rome for a large part of his pontificate. When news reached him of the death of Victor in 1164, he openly wept, and scolded the cardinals in his company for rejoicing at the end of the rival antipope. The dispute continued until Frederick Barbarossa's defeat at the Legnano in 1176, after which Barbarossa finally (in the Peace of Venice of 1177) recognized Alexander III as pope. On 12 March 1178, Alexander III returned to Rome, which he had been compelled to leave twice: the first time between 1162 and 23 November 1165. When Alexander was arrested by supporters of the imperialist Victor IV, he was freed by Oddone Frangipane, who sent him to safety in the Campania. Alexander again left Rome in 1167, travelling first to Benevento and later moving to various strongholds such as those of Anagni, Palestrina, Ferentino, Tusculum, and Veroli.
Did You Know?
- Alexander III was the first pope known to have paid direct attention to missionary activities east of the Baltic Sea.
- He created the Archbishopric of Uppsala in Sweden in 1164.
- Through the papal bull Manifestis Probatum in 1179, Alexander recognized the right of Count Afonso Henriques to proclaim himself king of Portugal.
- Alexander III elevated 68 cardinals in fifteen consistories, including two of his successors, Urban III and Clement III.
- His papacy lasted nearly twenty-two years, the longest since Adrian I in the 8th century.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Pope Alexander I?
Pope Alexander I was an early bishop of Rome whose Greek name hints at a non-Italian background, though his birthplace and family remain completely unknown. He is one of the earliest figures in the Roman papal succession, known mostly through later hagiographic traditions rather than contemporary documents.
When did Pope Alexander I serve as pope?
The 2012 Annuario Pontificio places his pontificate roughly between 108 or 109 and 116 or 119 AD. The wide range reflects how sparse the documentary record is for that era of the Church.
What is Pope Alexander I known for?
He is chiefly remembered for his role in the early development of Roman liturgical and administrative customs. Several later sources attribute specific liturgical practices to his reign, though modern scholars regard those attributions as disputed and hard to confirm.
Did Pope Alexander I die a martyr?
Some traditions hold that he was martyred under either Emperor Trajan or Hadrian, but the exact circumstances—and even whether he suffered martyrdom at all—are uncertain. His death is usually placed around 115, with a few sources stretching it to 118 or 119.
Why is Pope Alexander I important to early Church history?
As one of the earliest popes, he represents a formative stage when the Roman See was still crystallizing its distinct liturgical identity and administrative structures. His pontificate, though wrapped in disputed traditions, marks a transitional moment in the institutional growth of the Church of Rome.
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