Pope Nicholas II

Head of the Catholic Church from 1059 to 1061

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Pope Nicholas II" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Pope

Nicholas II

Bishop of Rome

Portrait of Nicholas II in the Nuova Cronica des Giovanni Villani

Church| Catholic Church
Papacy began| 24 January 1059
Papacy ended| 27 July 1061
Predecessor| Stephen IX
Successor| Alexander II
Personal details
Born|

Gerard

between 990 and 995

Château de Chevron, Mercury, Kingdom of Burgundy, Holy Roman Empire

Died| (1061-07-27)27 July 1061
Florence, March of Tuscany, Holy Roman Empire
Other popes named Nicholas
Nicholas II (right) depicted in a fresco in the Basilica of San Clemente al Laterano in Rome c. 12th century

Pope Nicholas II (Latin: Nicholaus II; c. 990/995 – 27 July 1061), otherwise known as Gerard of Burgundy, was the head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 24 January 1059 until his death in 27 July 1061. At the time of his election, he was bishop of Florence.[1] During his Papacy, Nicholas II successfully expanded the influence of the papacy in Milan and southern Italy. He was also responsible for passing papal election reforms, the most significant of which led to the creation of the papal conclave, which remains in use to this day.

## Early life

[edit]

Gerard of Burgundy was born in Chevron,[2] in what is now Savoy. He was a canon at Liège. In 1045 he became bishop of Florence, where he restored the canonical life among the clergy of numerous churches.[3][4]

## Papacy

[edit]

Benedict X was elected in 1058, his election having been arranged by the count of Tusculum. However, several cardinals alleged that the election was irregular and that votes had been bought; these cardinals were forced to flee Rome. Hildebrand, archdeacon of the Roman church, was away on a diplomatic mission to Germany. When he heard of Benedict X's election, he opposed it and obtained support for the election of Gerard of Burgundy instead. In December 1058, those cardinals who had opposed Benedict X's election met at Siena and elected Gerard as pope instead. He then took the name Nicholas II.[5]

Nicholas II proceeded towards Rome, along the way holding a synod at Sutri, where, in the presence of the Tuscan ruler Godfrey the Bearded and the imperial chancellor, Guibert of Parma, he pronounced Benedict X deposed and excommunicated.[5] The supporters of Nicholas II then gained control of Rome and forced Benedict X to flee to Gerard of Galeria. Having arrived in Rome, Nicholas II then proceeded to wage war against Benedict X and his supporters with Norman assistance. At an initial battle in Campagna in early 1059, Nicholas II was not wholly successful. But later that same year, his forces conquered Praeneste, Tusculum, and Numentanum, and in the autumn took Galeria, forcing Benedict X to surrender and renounce the papacy.

Nicholas II died on 27 July 1061, less than three years after becoming Pope.

### Relationship with the Normans

[edit]

A 1059 bullae seal of Nicholas II

To secure his position, Nicholas II at once entered into relations with the Normans. The pope wanted to re-take Sicily for Christianity, and he saw the Normans as the perfect force to crush the Muslims.[6] The Normans were by this time firmly established in southern Italy, and later in the year 1059 the new alliance was cemented at Melfi, where the pope, accompanied by Hildebrand, Cardinal Humbert, and Abbot Desiderius of Monte Cassino, solemnly invested Robert Guiscard with the duchies of Apulia, Calabria, and Sicily, and Richard of Aversa with the principality of Capua, in return for oaths of fealty and the promise of assistance in guarding the rights of the Church. This arrangement, which was based on no firmer foundation than the forged "Donation of Constantine", was destined to give the papacy independence from both the Eastern and Western Empires. Its first substantial result was Norman aid in taking Galeria, where Antipope Benedict X was hiding, and the end of the subordination of the papacy to the Roman nobles.

### Subordination of Milan

[edit]

Meanwhile, Nicholas II sent Peter Damian and Bishop Anselm of Lucca as legates to Milan, to resolve the conflict between the Patarenes and the archbishop and clergy. The result was a fresh triumph for the papacy. Archbishop Wido, facing ruinous ecclesiastical conflict in Milan, submitted to the terms of the legates, which subordinated Milan to Rome. The new relation was advertised by the unwilling attendance of Wido and the other Milanese bishops at the council summoned to the Lateran Palace in April 1059. This council not only continued the Hildebrandine reforms by sharpening the discipline of the clergy but marked an epoch in the history of the papacy by its famous regulation of future elections to the Holy See.

### Election reform

[edit]

Main article: In nomine Domini

Previously, papal elections had effectively been controlled by the Roman aristocracy, unless the Holy Roman emperor was strong enough to be able to intervene from a distance to impose his will. As a result of the battles with the Antipope Benedict X, Nicholas II wished to reform papal elections. At the synod held in the Lateran at Easter, 1059, Pope Nicholas brought 113 bishops to Rome to consider several reforms, including a change in the election procedure. The electoral reform adopted by that synod amounted to a declaration of independence on the part of the church. Henceforth, popes were to be selected by the cardinals in assembly in Rome.

## See also

[edit]

* Biography portal
* Christianity portal
* History portal

* The Tusculan Papacy
* History of the papacy (1048–1257)
* List of popes

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Coulombe, Charles A. Vicars of Christ: A History of the Popes, Citadel Press, 2003, p. 210.
2. ^ François Marius Hudry (1982). Histoire des communes savoyardes (in French). Vol. 4\. Roanne: Éditions Horvath. p. 79\. ISBN 978-2-7171-0263-5..
\- Michel Germain (2007). Personnages illustres des Savoie (in French). Autre Vue. p. 144\. ISBN 978-2-9156-8815-3..
3. ^ Schwartz, Gerhard. Die Besetzung der Bistümer Reichsitaliens unter den sächsischen und salischen Kaisern: mit den Listen der Bischöfe, 951-1122 (1907) Leipzig: B.G. Teubner. p. 209 (in lang|de)
4. ^ Detlev, Jasper. "Nicholas II, Pope", Religion Past and Present 2013, ISBN 9789004146662
5. ^ a b Weber, Nicholas. "Pope Nicholas II." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 11. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 24 December 2017
6. ^ Bartlett, Professor Robert. "The Normans", episode 3, BBC-TV

* This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Nicholas (popes)". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 19 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 649–651.
* This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Pope Nicholas II". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

Catholic Church titles

Preceded by

Stephen IX

|  Pope
1059–61  | Succeeded by

Alexander II

* v
* t
* e

Popes of the Catholic Church

* List of popes
* graphical
* canonised
* Papal names
* Tombs
* extant
* non-extant
* Antipope
* Pope emeritus
* papal resignation
* Pope-elect

1st–4th centuries|

* Peter
* Linus
* Anacletus
* Clement I
* Evaristus
* Alexander I
* Sixtus I
* Telesphorus
* Hyginus
* Pius I
* Anicetus
* Soter
* Eleutherius
* Victor I
* Zephyrinus
* Callixtus I
* Urban I
* Pontian
* Anterus
* Fabian
* Cornelius
* Lucius I
* Stephen I
* Sixtus II
* Dionysius
* Felix I
* Eutychian
* Caius
* Marcellinus
* Marcellus I
* Eusebius
* Miltiades
* Sylvester I
* Mark
* Julius I
* Liberius
* Damasus I
* Siricius
* Anastasius I

5th–8th centuries|

* Innocent I
* Zosimus
* Boniface I
* Celestine I
* Sixtus III
* Leo I
* Hilarius
* Simplicius
* Felix III
* Gelasius I
* Anastasius II
* Symmachus
* Hormisdas
* John I
* Felix IV
* Boniface II
* John II
* Agapetus I
* Silverius
* Vigilius
* Pelagius I
* John III
* Benedict I
* Pelagius II
* Gregory I
* Sabinian
* Boniface III
* Boniface IV
* Adeodatus I
* Boniface V
* Honorius I
* Severinus
* John IV
* Theodore I
* Martin I
* Eugene I
* Vitalian
* Adeodatus II
* Donus
* Agatho
* Leo II
* Benedict II
* John V
* Conon
* Sergius I
* John VI
* John VII
* Sisinnius
* Constantine
* Gregory II
* Gregory III
* Zachary
* Stephen II
* Paul I
* Stephen III
* Adrian I
* Leo III

9th–12th centuries|

* Stephen IV
* Paschal I
* Eugene II
* Valentine
* Gregory IV
* Sergius II
* Leo IV
* Benedict III
* Nicholas I
* Adrian II
* John VIII
* Marinus I
* Adrian III
* Stephen V
* Formosus
* Boniface VI
* Stephen VI
* Romanus
* Theodore II
* John IX
* Benedict IV
* Leo V
* Sergius III
* Anastasius III
* Lando
* John X
* Leo VI
* Stephen VII
* John XI
* Leo VII
* Stephen VIII
* Marinus II
* Agapetus II
* John XII
* Benedict V
* Leo VIII
* John XIII
* Benedict VI
* Benedict VII
* John XIV
* John XV
* Gregory V
* Sylvester II
* John XVII
* John XVIII
* Sergius IV
* Benedict VIII
* John XIX
* Benedict IX
* Sylvester III
* Gregory VI
* Clement II
* Damasus II
* Leo IX
* Victor II
* Stephen IX
* Nicholas II
* Alexander II
* Gregory VII
* Victor III
* Urban II
* Paschal II
* Gelasius II
* Callixtus II
* Honorius II
* Innocent II
* Celestine II
* Lucius II
* Eugene III
* Anastasius IV
* Adrian IV
* Alexander III
* Lucius III
* Urban III
* Gregory VIII
* Clement III
* Celestine III
* Innocent III

13th–16th centuries|

* Honorius III
* Gregory IX
* Celestine IV
* Innocent IV
* Alexander IV
* Urban IV
* Clement IV
* Gregory X
* Innocent V
* Adrian V
* John XXI
* Nicholas III
* Martin IV
* Honorius IV
* Nicholas IV
* Celestine V
* Boniface VIII
* Benedict XI
* Clement V
* John XXII
* Benedict XII
* Clement VI
* Innocent VI
* Urban V
* Gregory XI
* Urban VI
* Boniface IX
* Innocent VII
* Gregory XII
* Martin V
* Eugene IV
* Nicholas V
* Callixtus III
* Pius II
* Paul II
* Sixtus IV
* Innocent VIII
* Alexander VI
* Pius III
* Julius II
* Leo X
* Adrian VI
* Clement VII
* Paul III
* Julius III
* Marcellus II
* Paul IV
* Pius IV
* Pius V
* Gregory XIII
* Sixtus V
* Urban VII
* Gregory XIV
* Innocent IX
* Clement VIII

17th–21st centuries|

* Leo XI
* Paul V
* Gregory XV
* Urban VIII
* Innocent X
* Alexander VII
* Clement IX
* Clement X
* Innocent XI
* Alexander VIII
* Innocent XII
* Clement XI
* Innocent XIII
* Benedict XIII
* Clement XII
* Benedict XIV
* Clement XIII
* Clement XIV
* Pius VI
* Pius VII
* Leo XII
* Pius VIII
* Gregory XVI
* Pius IX
* Leo XIII
* Pius X
* Benedict XV
* Pius XI
* Pius XII
* John XXIII
* Paul VI
* John Paul I
* John Paul II
* Benedict XVI
* Francis

History of the papacy|

| Antiquity and Early
Middle Ages|

* During the Roman Empire (until 493)
* Under Constantine (312–337)
* Ostrogothic Papacy (493–537)
* Byzantine Papacy (537–752)
* Frankish Papacy (756–857)
* Saeculum obscurum (904–964)
* Crescentii era (974–1012)

|

High and Late
Middle Ages|

* Tusculan Papacy (1012–1044 / 1048)
* Conflicts with the HRE (1048–1257)
* Wandering Papacy
* Viterbo, 1257–1281
* Orvieto, 1262–1297
* Perugia, 1228–1304
* Avignon Papacy (1309–1378)
* Western Schism (1378–1417)

Early Modern and
Modern Era|

* Renaissance Papacy (1417–1534)
* Reformation Papacy (1534–1585)
* Baroque Papacy (1585–1689)
* Age of Enlightenment (c. 1640–1740)
* Revolutionary Papacy (1775–1848)
* Roman Question (1870–1929)
* Vatican City (1929–present)
* World War II (1939–1945)
* Cold War (1945–1991)

* Category
* Catholic Church Portal

* v
* t
* e

Catholic Church

* Index
* Outline
* Glossary
* Lists of Catholics

History
Timeline
Ecclesiastical
Legal|

| Early Church|

* Jesus Christ
* Ministry
* Crucifixion
* Resurrection
* Great Commission
* Apostles
* Succession
* Petrine primacy
* Church Fathers
* Apostolic Fathers
* History of the papacy
* Primacy

|

Great Church|

* Ante-Nicene period
* Constantine
* First seven ecumenical councils
* Nicaea I
* Chalcedon
* Late antiquity
* Biblical canon
* Monasticism

Middle Ages|

* Islamic conquests
* Pope Gregory I
* Papal States
* Schism (1054)
* Investiture Controversy
* Crusades
* Schism (1378)
* Inquisition
* Universities
* Scholasticism
* Age of Discovery

Modern era|

* Protestantism
* Protestant Reformation
* Catholic Reformation
* Trent
* Thirty Years' War
* Enlightenment
* French Revolution
* Nazism
* Vatican II
* Communism
* Sexual abuse scandal
* Islam
* COVID-19 pandemic

Theology
Bible
Tradition
Catechism|

| General|

* God
* Trinity
* Kingdom
* Body and soul
* Divine grace
* Dogma
* Nicene Creed
* Original sin
* Saints
* Salvation
* Sermon on the Mount
* Ten Commandments
* Vulgate
* Official Bible
* Sixtine Vulgate
* Sixto-Clementine Vulgate
* Nova Vulgata
* Worship

|

Ecclesiology|

* Communitas perfecta
* Councils
* Ecumenism
* Four marks
* One true church
* Catholic
* Infallibility
* Mystici Corporis Christi
* People of God
* Three states
* Subsistit in
* In canon law

Sacraments|

* Baptism
* Confirmation
* Eucharist
* Penance
* Anointing of the Sick
* Last rites
* Holy orders
* Matrimony

Mariology|

* Assumption
* History
* Immaculate Conception
* Mariology of the popes
* Mariology of the saints
* Mother of God
* Perpetual virginity
* Veneration
* See also:
* Josephology

Philosophy|

* Natural law
* Moral theology
* Personalism
* Social teaching
* Philosophers
* Philosophy of canon law
* See also:
* Science
* Evolution
* Separation of church and state
* Relations
* Politics

Saints|

* Holy Family
* Mary
* Joseph
* Patriarchs
* Prophets
* Archangels
* Martyrs
* Doctors of the Church
* Evangelists
* Confessors
* Disciples
* Virgins

Organisation
Hierarchy
Canon law
Laity
Precedence
By country|

| Holy See
(List of popes)|

* Pope Sede vacante
* Ecumenical councils
* College of Cardinals
* List
* Advisers
* Roman Curia
* Dicasteries
* Synod of Bishops
* Properties

|

Vatican City|

* Index
* Outline
* Apostolic Palace
* Lateran Treaty
* Roman Rota
* St. Peter's Basilica
* Swiss Guard
* Vatican Museums

Polity (Holy orders)|

* Diocese
* Episcopal conference
* Eparchy
* Bishop
* Patriarch
* Major
* Primate
* Metropolitan
* Archbishop
* Diocesan
* Coadjutor
* Auxiliary
* Titular
* Emeritus
* Parish
* Priest
* Deacon

Consecrated life|

* Religious:
* Superior
* Abbot, Abbess
* General
* Provincial
* Prior, Prioress
* Grand master
* Brother
* Friar
* Monk
* Sister
* Nun
* Hermit
* Novice
* Master
* Oblate
* Postulant

Particular churches
sui iuris|

* Latin Church
* Eastern Catholic Churches
* Albanian
* Armenian
* Belarusian
* Bulgarian
* Chaldean
* Coptic
* Croatian and Serbian
* Eritrean
* Ethiopian
* Georgian
* Greek
* Hungarian
* Italo-Albanian
* Macedonian
* Maronite
* Melkite
* Romanian
* Russian
* Ruthenian
* Slovak
* Syriac
* Syro-Malabar
* Syro-Malankara
* Ukrainian

Catholic liturgy|

* Eastern Catholic liturgy
* Alexandrian
* Antiochian
* Armenian
* Byzantine
* East Syriac
* West Syriac
* Malankara
* Latin
* Ambrosian
* Braga
* Mozarabic
* Roman
* Paul VI
* Tridentine
* Anglican
* Zaire

Culture|

* Art
* Marian
* Artists
* Writers
* Church buildings
* Altarpieces
* Folk
* Library
* Museums
* Music
* Distinctions
* Role in civilisation
* See also:
* Criticism of the Catholic Church
* Anti-Catholicism

Media|

* Holy See Press Office
* Vatican Media
* Vatican News
* Vatican Television Center
* Vatican Radio
* Vatican Polyglot Press
* L'Osservatore Romano
* Acta Apostolicae Sedis
* Annuario Pontificio

Religious orders,
institutes, societies|

* Assumptionists
* Annonciades
* Augustinians
* Basilians
* Benedictines
* Bethlehemites
* Blue nuns
* Camaldoleses
* Camillians
* Carmelites
* Carthusians
* Cistercians
* Clarisses
* Conceptionists
* Crosiers
* Dominicans
* Franciscans
* Good Shepherd Sisters
* Hieronymites
* Jesuits
* Legionaries
* Mercedarians
* Minims
* Olivetans
* Oratorians
* Piarists
* Premonstratensians
* Redemptoristines
* Servites
* Theatines
* Trappists
* Trinitarians
* Visitandines

Associations
of the faithful|

* Confraternities
* Lay
* Marian
* Youth
* Workers
* Third orders
* Saint Dominic
* Lay Carmelites
* Discalced
* Saint Francis
* Secular
* Military orders
* Fimcap
* Catholic Action
* Charismatic Renewal
* Communion and Liberation
* Sant'Egidio
* Focolare
* International Alliance of Catholic Knights
* Scouting
* Legion of Mary
* Neocatechumenal Way
* Opus Dei
* Schoenstatt

Charities|

* Aid to the Church in Need
* Caritas
* Catholic Charities USA
* Home Missions
* Relief Services
* CIDSE
* Pax Christi
* Society of Saint Vincent de Paul

* See also:
* Health care
* Schools
* Universities

* Catholic Church portal
* Category

* v
* t
* e

History of the Catholic Church

General|

* History of the Catholic Church
* By country or region
* Ecclesiastical history
* Timeline
* Papacy
* Papal primacy
* Catholic ecumenical councils
* First seven
* Catholic Bible
* Biblical canon
* Vulgate
* Crusading movement
* History of the Roman Curia
* Religious institutes
* Christian monasticism
* Catholic culture
* Art
* Role in civilization
* Vatican City
* Papal States
* Latin Church
* Eastern Catholic Churches

Early Church
(30–325/476)|

| Origins and
Apostolic Age (30–100)|

* Jesus
* Ministry
* Crucifixion
* Resurrection
* Great Commission
* Holy Spirit
* Mary
* John the Baptist
* Apostles in the New Testament
* Commissioning
* Peter
* John
* Paul
* Stephen
* Council of Jerusalem
* Split with Judaism
* New Testament
* Background
* Gospels
* Acts
* Pauline epistles
* General epistles
* Revelation

|

Ante-Nicene period (100–325)|

* Persecution
* Church Fathers
* Apostolic Fathers
* Pope Clement I
* Polycarp
* Ignatius
* Irenaeus
* Justin Martyr
* Canon
* Tertullian
* Origen

Late antiquity
(313–476)|

| Great Church
(180–451)
Roman
state church
(380–451)|

* Constantine the Great
* Christianity
* Arian controversy
* Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran
* Old St. Peter's Basilica
* First Council of Nicaea
* Pope Sylvester I
* First Council of Constantinople
* Biblical canon
* Jerome
* Vulgate
* Council of Ephesus
* Council of Chalcedon

|

Early Middle Ages|

* Benedict of Nursia
* Monasticism
* Second Council of Constantinople
* Pope Gregory I
* Gregorian chant
* Third Council of Constantinople
* Saint Boniface
* Byzantine Iconoclasm
* Second Council of Nicaea
* Charlemagne
* Pope Leo III
* Fourth Council of Constantinople
* East–West Schism

High Middle Ages|

* Pope Urban II
* Investiture Controversy
* Clash against the empire
* Crusades
* Universities
* Scholasticism
* First Council of the Lateran
* Second Council of the Lateran
* Third Council of the Lateran
* Pope Innocent III
* Latin Empire
* Francis of Assisi
* Fourth Council of the Lateran
* Inquisition
* First Council of Lyon
* Second Council of Lyon
* Bernard of Clairvaux

Late Middle Ages|

* Thomas Aquinas
* Pope Boniface VIII
* Western Schism
* Avignon Papacy
* Pope Clement V
* Council of Vienne
* Knights Templar
* Catherine of Siena
* Pope Alexander VI
* Age of Discovery

Protestant Reformation
Counter-Reformation

* Protestant Reformation
* Catholic Counter-Reformation
* Exsurge Domine
* Dissolution of the monasteries
* Council of Trent
* Thomas More
* Pope Leo X
* Society of Jesus
* Ignatius of Loyola
* Francis Xavier
* Pope Pius V
* Tridentine Mass
* Teresa of Ávila
* John of the Cross
* Peter Canisius
* Philip Neri
* Robert Bellarmine
* European wars of religion
* Thirty Years' War

Baroque period to the
French Revolution

* Pope Innocent XI
* Pope Benedict XIV
* Suppression of the Society of Jesus
* Age of Enlightenment
* Anti-clericalism
* Pope Pius VI
* Shimabara Rebellion
* Edict of Nantes
* Dechristianization of France during the French Revolution

19th century|

* Pope Pius VII
* Pope Pius IX
* United States
* Dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary
* Our Lady of La Salette
* Our Lady of Lourdes
* First Vatican Council
* Papal infallibility
* Pope Leo XIII
* Mary of the Divine Heart
* Prayer of Consecration to the Sacred Heart
* Rerum novarum

20th century|

* Pope Pius X
* Our Lady of Fátima
* Persecutions of the Catholic Church and Pius XII
* Pope Pius XII
* Pope Pius XII 1942 consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
* Dogma of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
* Lateran Treaty
* Nazism
* Mit brennender Sorge
* Pope John XXIII
* Pacem in terris
* Second Vatican Council
* Ecumenism
* Judaism
* Pope Paul VI (coronation)
* Pope John Paul I
* Mother Teresa
* Communism
* Pope John Paul II
* HIV/AIDS
* World Youth Day
* 1995

21st century|

* Sexual abuse scandal
* Islam
* World Youth Day
* 2000
* 2002
* 2005
* 2008
* 2011
* 2013
* 2016
* 2019
* 2023
* Pope Benedict XVI
* Pope Francis
* Laudato si'
* Patriarch Kirill
* COVID-19 pandemic

* Vatican City portal
* Catholicism portal

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* 2
* 3
* 4
* FAST
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Italy
* Czech Republic
* Netherlands
* Sweden
* Poland
* Vatican
* Israel
* Catalonia

People|

* Italian People
* Deutsche Biographie
* DDB

Other|

* IdRef

*[c.]: circa
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template