The Double Papal Election and Lothair II’s…
1131 CE
The Double Papal Election and Lothair II’s Decision (1130–1131 CE)
In 1130, the papal election resulted in a double election, with two rival claimants to the papacy:
- Anacletus II, backed by the powerful Pierleoni family in Rome and King Roger II of Sicily.
- Innocent II, who sought support from the Holy Roman Empire and Capetian France.
Both claimants campaigned for the support of Lothair II, King of the Romans, presenting him with a golden opportunity to reassert imperial control over the papacy. However, instead of immediately intervening, Lothair focused on dealing with the Hohenstaufen resistance in Germany, allowing his subordinates to decide on papal legitimacy.
Lothair II’s Support for Innocent II
- Anacletus II offered Lothair the Imperial crown, hoping to gain his recognition, but ultimately, Innocent II secured Lothair’s support.
- Lothair promised to escort Innocent II back to Rome, aiding him in overcoming Anacletus II’s control of the city.
In 1131, Lothair and Innocent II met at Liège, where:
- Lothair demonstrated submission to the pope, reinforcing the precedent that imperial authority was subordinate to papal legitimacy.
- Lothair requested the restoration of lay investiture, but Innocent ignored his request, refusing to return this power to the empire.
- Despite this, Lothair retained the rights secured by the Concordat of Worms (1122), ensuring that imperial influence over ecclesiastical appointments was not completely eroded.
The Agreement Against Roger II of Sicily and Lothair’s Second Coronation
- Innocent II sought military assistance from Lothair against King Roger II of Sicily, a key ally of Anacletus II.
- Lothair agreed to assist Innocent in the conflict, further entrenching his role as papal protector.
- In return, on March 29, 1131, Innocent II again crowned Lothair as King of the Romans, reinforcing his legitimacy.
Consequences of Lothair’s Decision
- Lothair’s alignment with Innocent II ensured that the Holy Roman Empire remained central to papal politics, but also affirmed papal supremacy over imperial authority.
- His failure to secure investiture rights marked a missed opportunity to restore imperial control over the Church.
- His military commitment against Roger II would later lead to his Italian campaigns, shaping the long-term conflict between the Holy Roman Empire and the Kingdom of Sicily.
Lothair’s decision in 1131 helped tilt the papal schism in favor of Innocent II, setting the stage for the final resolution of the double election and ensuring that the papacy remained politically entangled with imperial ambitions for decades to come.