Papal election, 1119

Papal election January–February 1118
Coat of arms during the vacancy of the Holy See
Dates and location
29 January – 2 February 1119 Cluny Abbey, Cluny, Saône-et-Loire, France
Elected Pope
Guy de Bourgogne (Name taken: Callixtus II)

Cluny Abbey, the site of the papal election

The papal election from January 29 to February 2, 1119 was, by an order of magnitude, the smallest papal election of the 12th century currently considered legitimate by the Roman Catholic Church.

Pope Gelasius II had died in Cluny having been expelled from Rome by Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor, as a result of the Investiture Controversy. Probably only two cardinal bishops, four cardinal priests and four cardinal deacons participated in the election. The election took place in Cluny Abbey in France, while the rest of the College of Cardinals remained in Rome. A non-cardinal Guy de Bourgogne, the Archbishop of Vienne, was elected Pope Callixtus II, and crowned in Vienne on February 9; Callixtus II reached Rome on June 3, 1120.^[1]

Cardinal electors

Probably ten cardinals took part in the election.^[2]

Proceeding

The cardinals attending the death mass of Gelasius II in Cluny in late January 1119 were divided over whether his successor should be elected on the spot (as was permitted by In Nomine Domini) or whether they should return to Rome and hold the election with the full College of Cardinals; although the cardinals proceeded with the election immediately, they agreed that they would submit their choice to the entire College thereafter.^[3] The cardinals which accompanied Gleasius II to Cluny are known from Liber Pontificalis associated with "Pandulphus" (either Pandulf of Pisa or Pandulf of Lucca), from the charter from Cluny, and from the chronicle of Ordericus Vitalis.^[3]

Although the contemporary accounts diverge on many points, it is clear across them that the two candidates that emerged were Guy and Pontius of Cluny, both named as candidates by the late pontiff.^[4] The account of Gaufrid, prior of Vigois, relates that Gelasius II had preferred Pontius and predicted his election; Pontius was a far more conciliatory candidate, likely to negotiate a solution to the Investiture Controversy.^[4] Two accounts in particular—those of Bernard of Carrion and Gaufrid of Vigois—detail the election of Guy, emphasizing the importance of his known confrontational stance towards Henry V (having previously excommunicated him) and his powerful family, the Salian dynasty.^[4]

Aftermath

At the time of his election, Guy was in the company of his militia, which began rioting when it learned of his election, breaking into the election chamber and violently disrobing him, according to the Historia Compostelana.^[5]

Callixtus II proceeded to Sutri, the location of his opponent, Antipope Gregory VIII, appointed by Henry V, and laid siege to the city for eight days until Gregory VIII was handed over to him; Callixtus then imprisoned Gregory VIII in the Septizodium, from which the papal claimant was moved from monastery to monastery before his death in 1137.^[6]

See also

• Bernard of Clairvaux

Notes

References

• Stroll, Mary. 2004. Calixtus II (1119-1124): A Pope Born to Rule. BRILL. ISBN 90-04-13987-7.

Papal elections
Pope Papal selection before 1059 Papal conclave (since 1274)
11th century	1061 1073 1086 1088 1099
12th century	1118 1119 1124 1130 1143 1144 1145 1153 1154 1159 1181 1185 Oct. 1187 Dec. 1187 1191 1198
13th century	1216 1227 1241 1243 1254 1261 1264–65 1268–71 Jan. 1276 July 1276 Sept. 1276 1277 1280–81 1285 1287–88 1292–94 1294
14th century	1303 1304–05 1314–16 1334 1342 1352 1362 1370 1378 1389
15th century	1404 1406 1417 1431 1447 1455 1458 1464 1471 1484 1492
16th century	Sept. 1503 Oct. 1503 1513 1521–22 1523 1534 1549–50 April 1555 May 1555 1559 1565–66 1572 1585 Sept. 1590 Oct.–Dec. 1590 1591 1592
17th century	March 1605 May 1605 1621 1623 1644 1655 1667 1669–70 1676 1689 1691 1700
18th century	1721 1724 1730 1740 1758 1769 1774–75 1799–1800
19th century	1823 1829 1830–31 1846 1878
20th century	1903 1914 1922 1939 1958 1963 Aug. 1978 Oct. 1978
21st century	2005 2013
Pope portal Catholicism portal