Antipope Honorius II
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Honorius (II)
(antipope 28 Oct. 1061 — 31 May 1064: d. 1071/2)
On Nicholas II's death in July 1061 Peter Cadalus, born 1009/10 of wealthy German stock near Verona, by 1041 comptroller of the see of Verona, bishop of Parma by May 1046, was elected pope, on the nomination of Empress Agnes as regent for the youthful Henry IV (1056 — 1106), by a miscellaneous assembly at Basle; he took the style Honorius II. The Roman nobility, set on seizing the papacy for themselves, had sent an embassy to the German court bearing the insignia of the patrician of the Romans to request Henry, in virtue of that office, to name a new pope; there had also arrived, led by Guibert, the royal chancellor, a delegation of Lombard bishops hostile to the reform movement. Because of his prominence, his close relations with the royal house, and his wealth, Cadalus was an obvious choice; he was also, although founder in 1046 of the monastery of S. Giorgio at Verona, an opponent of reform, in particular of the revolutionary reform movement known as the Pataria.
One month earlier (30 Sept.) the reform party at Rome had elected Bishop Anselm of Lucca as Pope Alexander II. In Apr. 1062, after defeating his rival's troops, Honorius installed himself in Rome, but failed to exploit his success. In May Duke Godfrey of Lorraine, arriving with superior forces, persuaded both popes to withdraw to their dioceses until the German court decided on their claims. This meant in effect that the decision lay with Anno, the reform-minded archbishop of Cologne (1056 — 78), who had now replaced Agnes as regent and who personally favoured Alexander. After investigations, first at Augsburg in Oct. 1062 and then at Rome at the end of the year, judgement was given in Alexander's favour. But Honorius was far from finished. Anathematized by Alexander (20 Apr. 1062), he anathematized him in turn from Parma, and in May 1063 attacked Rome, seizing Castel Sant'Angelo and holding it for several months. As the schism dragged on and Alexander's title continued to be disputed, Anno was persuaded by the reformer Peter Damian (1007 — 72) to convene a synod of German and Italian bishops at Mantua in May 1064 to which both popes were invited. Honorius refused to attend since his request to preside was not granted, but Alexander attended, presided, and, after disclaiming simony on oath, was definitively acknowledged as pope. Honorius was then formally anathematized. He now returned to Parma, remaining its acknowledged bishop until his death towards the end of 1071 or the beginning of 1072. He never abandoned his claims to the papacy, and at least twice, in 1065 and 1068, had serious grounds for hoping that the attitude of the German court would again alter in his favour.
Previous (chronologically): Alexander II, Nicholas II, Benedict X
Next (chronologically): St Gregory VII, Clement III, Bl. Victor III
On Nicholas II's death in July 1061 Peter Cadalus, born 1009/10 of wealthy German stock near Verona, by 1041 comptroller of the see of Verona, bishop of Parma by May 1046, was elected pope, on the nomination of Empress Agnes as regent for the youthful Henry IV (1056 — 1106), by a miscellaneous assembly at Basle; he took the style Honorius II. The Roman nobility, set on seizing the papacy for themselves, had sent an embassy to the German court bearing the insignia of the patrician of the Romans to request Henry, in virtue of that office, to name a new pope; there had also arrived, led by Guibert, the royal chancellor, a delegation of Lombard bishops hostile to the reform movement. Because of his prominence, his close relations with the royal house, and his wealth, Cadalus was an obvious choice; he was also, although founder in 1046 of the monastery of S. Giorgio at Verona, an opponent of reform, in particular of the revolutionary reform movement known as the Pataria.
One month earlier (30 Sept.) the reform party at Rome had elected Bishop Anselm of Lucca as Pope Alexander II. In Apr. 1062, after defeating his rival's troops, Honorius installed himself in Rome, but failed to exploit his success. In May Duke Godfrey of Lorraine, arriving with superior forces, persuaded both popes to withdraw to their dioceses until the German court decided on their claims. This meant in effect that the decision lay with Anno, the reform-minded archbishop of Cologne (1056 — 78), who had now replaced Agnes as regent and who personally favoured Alexander. After investigations, first at Augsburg in Oct. 1062 and then at Rome at the end of the year, judgement was given in Alexander's favour. But Honorius was far from finished. Anathematized by Alexander (20 Apr. 1062), he anathematized him in turn from Parma, and in May 1063 attacked Rome, seizing Castel Sant'Angelo and holding it for several months. As the schism dragged on and Alexander's title continued to be disputed, Anno was persuaded by the reformer Peter Damian (1007 — 72) to convene a synod of German and Italian bishops at Mantua in May 1064 to which both popes were invited. Honorius refused to attend since his request to preside was not granted, but Alexander attended, presided, and, after disclaiming simony on oath, was definitively acknowledged as pope. Honorius was then formally anathematized. He now returned to Parma, remaining its acknowledged bishop until his death towards the end of 1071 or the beginning of 1072. He never abandoned his claims to the papacy, and at least twice, in 1065 and 1068, had serious grounds for hoping that the attitude of the German court would again alter in his favour.
Previous (chronologically): Alexander II, Nicholas II, Benedict X
Next (chronologically): St Gregory VII, Clement III, Bl. Victor III
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Antipope Honorius II
- Antipope Honorius II should not be confused with Pope Honorius II.
Honorius II (died 1072), born Pietro Cadalus, was an antipope from 1061 to 1072. He was born at Verona and became bishop of Parma in 1046. He died at Parma in 1072.
After the death of Pope Nicholas II (1059–61) in July 1061, two different groups met to elect a new Pope. The cardinals met under the direction of Hildebrand (who later became Pope Gregory VII) and elected Pope Alexander II (1061–73) on 30 September 1061. Alexander II had been one of the leaders of the reform party in his role as Anselm the Elder, Bishop of Lucca.[1]
Twenty-eight days after Alexander II's election an assembly of German and Lombard bishops and notables opposed to the reform movement was brought together at Basel by the Empress Agnes as regent for her son, Emperor Henry IV (1056–1105), and was presided over by the Imperial Chancellor Wilbert. They elected on 28 October 1061, the bishop of Parma, Cadalus, who assumed the name of Honorius II.
With the support of the Empress and the nobles, in the spring of 1062 Honorius II, with his troops, marched towards Rome to claim the papal seat by force. Bishop Benzo of Alba helped his cause as imperial envoy to Rome, and Cadalus advanced as far as Sutri. On 14 April a brief but bloody conflict took place at Rome, in which the forces of Alexander II lost and antipope Honorius II got possession of the precincts of St. Peter's.
Duke Godfrey of Lorraine arrived in May 1062, and induced both rivals to submit the matter to the King's decision. Honorius II withdrew to Parma and Alexander II returned to his see in Lucca, pending Godfrey's mediation with the German court and the advisers of the young German King, Henry IV.
In Germany, meanwhile, a revolution had taken place. Anno, the powerful Archbishop of Cologne, had seized the regency, and the Empress Agnes retired to the convent at Fructuaria in Piedmont. The chief authority in Germany passed to Anno, who was hostile to Honorius II.
Having declared himself against Cadalus, the new regent at the Council of Augsburg, (October 1062), secured the appointment of an envoy to be sent to Rome for the purpose of investigating charges of simony against Alexander II. The envoy, Burchard II, Bishop of Halberstadt (Anno's nephew) found no objection to Alexander II's election. Alexander II was recognized as the lawful pontiff, and his rival, Cadalus (Honorius II), excommunicated in 1063.
The antipope did not, however, abandon his claims. At a counter-synod held at Parma he defied the excommunication. He gathered an armed force and once more proceeded to Rome, where he established himself in the Castel Sant'Angelo.
The ensuing war between the rival Popes lasted for about a year. Honorius II eventually gave up, left Rome as a fugitive, and returned to Parma.
The Council of Mantua, on Pentecost, 31 May 1064, ended the schism by formally declaring Alexander II to be the legitimate successor of St. Peter. Honorius II, however, maintained his claim to the papal chair to the day of his death in 1072.
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