Pope Anastasius IV (Corrado di Suburra)
Pope from 1153 to 1154. Corrado di Suburra, an elderly Roman cleric and former cardinal, whose brief pontificate focused on settling church disputes, administering papal rights, and tending to Roman ecclesiastical affairs.
Overview
Pope Anastasius IV (born Corrado di Suburra, c.1073–3 December 1154) was an Italian churchman elected to the papacy in 1153. He had a long career in the Roman clergy before his election and served only a short time as pontiff. His pontificate is generally remembered for continuity and administration rather than sweeping reform.
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Early life and clerical career
Corrado came from the Suburra quarter of Rome and rose through the ranks of the Roman Church. He is widely described in sources as an experienced Roman cleric and held important curial responsibilities prior to becoming cardinal. His age and background made him a compromise candidate when the cardinals chose a successor in 1153.
Papacy (1153–1154)
Anastasius IV served as Pope for about seventeen months. During that interval he concentrated on resolving internal disputes within the Church, confirming customary privileges, and maintaining the administration of papal offices. Because his pontificate was brief and he was already elderly at election, he did not initiate major new policies.
Actions and legacy
Contemporary accounts emphasize Anastasius's prudence and attention to routine governance. He dealt with legal and property questions affecting monasteries and dioceses and reinforced the continuity of papal authority after the reign of his predecessor. His modest legacy is chiefly one of steady stewardship rather than dramatic change.
Historical context and significance
Anastasius IV led the Roman church amid the political complexities of mid‑12th century Europe, a time of recurring tension between the papacy, local Roman powers, and the Holy Roman Empire. His brief leadership helped bridge the pontificates of Eugene III and his successor, Adrian IV, and preserved institutional stability during a period of wider contestation.
Quick facts
- Birth name: Corrado di Suburra
- Approximate birth: c.1073
- Pontificate: 1153–3 December 1154
- Predecessor: Eugenius III; successor: Adrian IV
- Further reading: detailed biography
Questions and answers
Q: Who was Pope Anastasius IV?
A: Pope Anastasius IV was a cleric of the Roman Catholic Church who was born Corrado di Suburra in Italy.
Q: What was Pope Anastasius IV's term as pope?
A: Pope Anastasius IV served as the 169th Pope from 1153 until his death in 1154.
Q: What was Pope Anastasius IV's birth name?
A: Pope Anastasius IV's birth name was Corrado di Suburra.
Q: In what year did Pope Anastasius IV die?
A: Pope Anastasius IV died in 1154.
Q: Was Pope Anastasius IV an Italian?
A: Yes, Pope Anastasius IV was an Italian.
Q: What was Pope Anastasius IV's title within the Roman Catholic Church?
A: Pope Anastasius IV was the 169th Pope.
Q: What was the Latin name for Pope Anastasius IV?
A: The Latin name for Pope Anastasius IV was Anastasius Quartus.
Author
AlegsaOnline.com Pope Anastasius IV (Corrado di Suburra) Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/128839