Papacy of Urban IV begins 1261

walwyn Sat, 08/02/2014 - 21:23
Thursday, September 29, 1261

Following the death of Pope Alexander IV on the 25th of May 1261, Jacques Pantaléon, the patriarch of Jerusalem, was elected Pope Urban IV on the 29th of September 1261. The election was delayed because of arguments amongst the Cardinals and finally resolved by a committee.

He had first come to the church hierarchy at the First Council of Lyon where he impressed Pope Innocent IV who subsequently sent him on two missions to Germany. One of which was to negotiate the Treaty of Christburg between the pagan Prussians and the Teutonic Knights.