Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, "Groups, Theory of" to "Gwyniad": Volume 12, Slice 6Various
Science
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, "Groups, Theory of" to "Gwyniad": Volume 12, Slice 6
Various
Encyclopedias and dictionaries
GUIBERT, or WIBERT (c. 1030-1100), of Ravenna, antipope under the title
of Clement III. from the 25th of June 1080 until September 1100, was
born at Parma between 1020 and 1030 of the noble imperialist family,
Corregio. He entered the priesthood and was appointed by the empress
Agnes, chancellor and, after the death of Pope Victor II. (1057),
imperial vicar in Italy. He strove to uphold the imperial authority
during Henry IV.'s minority, and presided over the synod at Basel (1061)
which annulled the election of Alexander II. and created in the person
of Cadalous, bishop of Parma, the antipope Honorius II. Guibert lost the
chancellorship in 1062. In 1073, through the influence of Empress Agnes
and the support of Cardinal Hildebrand, he obtained the archbishopric of
Ravenna and swore fealty to Alexander II. and his successors. He seems
to have been at first on friendly terms with Gregory VII., but soon
quarrelled with him over the possession of the city of Imola, and
henceforth was recognized as the soul of the imperial faction in the
investiture contest. He allied himself with Cencius, Cardinal Candidus
and other opponents of Gregory at Rome, and, on his refusal to furnish
troops or to attend the Lenten synod of 1075, he was ecclesiastically
suspended by the pope. He was probably excommunicated at the synod of
Worms (1076) with other Lombard bishops who sided with Henry IV., and
at the Lenten synod of 1078 he was banned by name. The emperor, having
been excommunicated for the second time in March 1080, convened nineteen
bishops of his party at Mainz on the 31st of May, who pronounced the
deposition of Gregory; and on the 25th of June he caused Guibert to be
elected pope by thirty bishops assembled at Brixen. Guibert, whilst
retaining possession of his archbishopric, accompanied his imperial
master on most of the latter's military expeditions. Having gained Rome,
he was installed in the Lateran and consecrated as Clement III. on the
24th of March 1084. One week later, on Easter Sunday, he crowned Henry
IV. and Bertha in St Peter's. Clement survived not only Gregory VII. but
also Victor III. and Urban II., maintaining his title to the end and in
great measure his power over Rome and the adjoining regions.
Excommunication was pronounced against him by all his rivals. He was
driven out of Rome finally by crusaders in 1097, and sought refuge in
various fortresses on his own estates. St Angelo, the last Guibertist
stronghold in Rome, fell to Urban II. on the 24th of August 1098.
Clement, on the accession of Paschal II. in 1099, prepared to renew his
struggle but was driven from Albano by Norman troops and died at Civita
Castellana in September 1100. His ashes, which were said by his
followers to have worked miracles, were thrown into the water by Paschal
II.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account