Anselm of Baggio
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Pope Alexander II |
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|---|---|
| Bishop of Rome | |
Medieval depiction of Pope Alexander II
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| Church | Catholic Church |
| Diocese | Rome |
| Elected | 30 September 1061 |
| Papacy began | 1 October 1061 |
| Papacy ended | 21 April 1073 |
| Predecessor | Nicholas II |
| Successor | Gregory VII |
| Other posts | Bishop of Lucca |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Anselmo da Baggio |
| Born | 1010/1015 Milan, Holy Roman Empire |
| Died |
21 April 1073 Rome, Papal State |
| Buried | Tomb of Pope Alexander VII, St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City |
| Denomination | Catholic |
Pope Alexander II (1010/1015 – 21 April 1073), born Anselm of Baggio (Italian: Anselmo da Baggio), was Pope from 30 September 1061 to his death in 1073. Born in Milan, Anselm was deeply involved the Pataria reform movement. Elected according to the terms of his predecessor's bull, In nomine Domini, Anselm's was the first election by the cardinals without the participation of the people and minor clergy of Rome.
Anselm was born in Milan of a noble family. Contemporary sources do not provide any information where Anselm might obtain his education. It was traditionally believed that Anselm de Baggio studied under Lanfranc at Bec Abbey, however, modern historiography rejects such possibility. He was one of the founders of the Pataria, a movement in the Archdiocese of Milan, aimed at reforming the clergy and ecclesiastic government in the province and supportive of Papal sanctions against simony and clerical marriage. They contested the ancient rights of the cathedral clergy of Milan and supported the Gregorian reforms. Anselm was one of four "upright and honest" priests suggested to succeed Ariberto da Intimiano as prince bishop of Milan. When Emperor Henry III chose instead the more worldly Guido da Velate, protests followed. In order to silence a vocal critic, Bishop Guido sent Anselm to the Imperial Court.
The emperor named Anselm, bishop of Lucca. As bishop, he was an energetic coadjutor with Hildebrand of Sovana in endeavouring to suppress simony and enforce clerical celibacy. (In this role, he is sometimes known as Anselm the Elder or Anselm I to distinguish him from his nephew St Anselm who succeeded to his office.) So bad was the state of things at Milan, that benefices were openly bought and sold, and the clergy publicly married the women with whom they lived. With the increased prestige of his office, he reappeared twice in Milan as legate of the Holy See, in 1057 in the company of Hildebrand, and in 1059 with Peter Damian.
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