Pope Innocent II dies 1143

On the 24th of September 1143 Pope Innocent II died in Rome. He was succeeded by Pope Celestine II.

Having been elected by a minority of Cardinals Innocent II had been forced to flee Rome by his rival Anacletus II who had been elected by opponents to the Frangipani family. His early years as pope were spent in exile where he gained the support of Henry I of England, Lothar III of Germany, the French court, and Bernard of Clairvaux. Anacletus died in 1138 and Innocent II became undisputed pope.

At the Second Lateran Council, Roger II of Scicily who had been Innocent II main opponent was excommunicated. However, in 1139 Roger's son ambushed Innocent II and held him captive, resulting in the Treaty of Mignano.