Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 6.djvu/881

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795

GREGORY


795


GREGORY


Ilia having fallen mortally wounded at the battle of Merseburg in 1080, Henry could concentrate all his forces against Gregory. In 1081 he inarched on Rome, but failed to force his way into the city, which he finally accomplished only in 10S4. Gregory there- upon retired into the castle of Sant' Angclo, and re- fusetl to entertain Henry's overtures, although the latter promised to hand over Guibert as a prisoner, if the sovereign pontiff would only consent to crown him emperor. Gregory, however, msisted as a necessary preliminary that Henry should appear before a coun- cil and do penance. The emperor, while pretending to submit to these terms, tried hard to prevent the meeting of the bishops. A small number however as- sembled, and, in accordance with their wishes, Greg- ory again excommunicated Henry. The latter on re- ceipt of tliis news again entered Rome on 21 March, 1084. Guibert was consecrated pope, and then crowned Henry emperor. However, Robert Guis- card, Duke of Normandy, with whom Gregory had formed an alliance, was already marching on the city, and Henry, learning of his advance, fled towards Citta Castellana. The pontiff was liberated, but, the peo- ple becoming incensed by the excesses of his Norman allies, he was compelled to leave Rome. Disap- pointed and sorrowing he withdrew to Monte Cassino, and later to the castle of Salerno by the sea, where he died in the following year. Three days Ijefore his death he withdrew all the censures of excommunica- tion that he had pronounced, except those against the two chief ofTenders — Henry and Guibert. His last words were: "I have loved justice and hated iniquity, therefore I die in exile." Ilis body was interred m the church of Saint Matthew at Salerno. He was lieatified by Gregory XIII in 15S4, and canonized in 1728 by Benedict XIII. His writings treat mainly of the principles and practice of Church government. They may be fovmd under the title "Gregorii VII registri give epistolarum libri" in Mansi, "Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio" (Florence, 1759) and " S. Gregorii VII epistolae et diplomata " by Horoy (Paris, 1877).

Alzog, Univerml Church History, tr., II (Dublin, 1900), 321, 34.3-67; Hass, Hislory of the Popes (Tubingen, 1S60), 279-423; Gabb, Apology of Gregory VII (Tubingen, 1792); Idem. Vindi- cation of Gregory VII (Pressburg, 1786); Barry, The Papal Monarchy (New York, 1902), 190-232; Bowden, Life and Pontificate of Gregory VII (London, 1840); VoiGT, Hildebrand, als Papst Gregorius VII., und sein Zeitalier, aus den Quellen bear- britet (Weimar, 1846), French tr. (Paris, 1854); Lilly, Work of Gregory VII, the turning-point of the Middle Ages in Contempor- ary i?fvieii'(18S2),XLII, 46, 237; Montalembert. St. Gregoire VII, moine et pape in Le Correspondant (1874), B, LXIII, 641, S61, 1081, tr. in The Month (1875), C, V, 370, 502 sqq., VI, 104, 2.35, 379 sqq. ; Rocquain, La puissance pontificale sous Gregoire VII in Cpte. rendu acad. scien. mar.-polit. (1881 ), F. XV, 3 15-50; DE ViDAlLLON, Vie de Gregoire VII (Paris, 1837); Davin, St. Gregoire VII (Tournai, 1861); Dularc, Gregoire VII et la rc- forme d£ I'Eglise au XI' siicle (Paris. 1889); Gfrorer, i'apsf Gregorius VII. und sein Zcitalter (Schaflfhausen. 1859-Gl); Acta SS., May. VI. 102-13, VII, 850; Mabillon. Acta SS. O.S.B. (1701). VI. ii. 403-6; Mansi. Sacrorum conciliorum nova et am- plissima collectio (Florence. 1759-1798). XX, 60-391 ; Brischar in Kirchenlcxicon, a. v. Gregor VII.; Casoli, La vita di papa Sn Gregorio VII (Bologna, 1885); Anal. Boll. (1892), XI. 324-6; Watteru-h, PiiFifiJiram Roman. vitcB ab exeunte swculo IX ad fincm sfrruli XIII, <ih n(iu(dibus conscripta: (Braunsberg. 1864); Hefele, (,'nijitr MI. und Ileinrich IV. zu Canossa in Theolog. Ounrlnlsrhr. (Tuliiiicen, 1S61).. XLIII, 3-36; Idem. Hist, concil., V,l-166; Jaffe. Hibl. rcr. German., II (1865). 1-9. 520; Idem. Reg. pont. Roman. (1851). 379. 384. 389. 402-43. 949: Ccn«cnnrio di papa S. Gregorio VII in Civiltti cattolica (1873). H, X. 428-45; Centenary of Gregory VII at CanossainDublin Revieu, LXXXIII (I^ondon, 1878). 107; Giraiid. Grfgoire VII et son temps in Rcvuc desdeuxmondes, CIV. 437-57. 613-45; CV. 141-74; Gregory VII and Si/lvester II in Dublin Reviav. VI (London. 1839), 289. See also Hergenrother-Kirsch. Kirchengeschichte; and Gorini. Defense de realise contre les erreurs historiques de MM. Guizot, Aug. et Am. Thierry, Michelet, Amph'e, etc.. Ill (Lyons, 1S72). 177-307.

Thomas Oesteeich.

Gregory VIII, Pope (Alberto di Morra); b. about (he beginning of the twelfth century, at Bene- vento; elected at Ferrara, 21 Oct., 1187; d. at Pisa, 17 Dec, 1187, after a pontificate of one month and


twenty-seven days. The year 1187 witnessed the almost complete obliteration of Christianity in Pales- tine. On 4 July, Saladin won the decisive victory of Hittin, near Lake Tiberias; on 3 October, the terrible sultan was master of Jerusalem. The news of the fall of the Holy City struck Europe like a thunderbolt. Urban III is said to have died of a broken heart (20 Oct.). The following day the cardinals elected the chancellor. Cardinal Alberto. He was a Beneventan of noble family; had received a good education; at an early age became a monk, some say a Cistercian, some a Benedictine of Monte Cassino. He was created car- dinal-deacon in 1155, by Adrian IV, and in 1158 cardinal-priest with the title of San Lorenzo in Lucina. Alexander III, in 1 172, made him his chancellor. It is interesting to notice that he was the last cardinal who used that title imtil it was revived in our own day by Pius X, succeeding chancellors of the Holy See, for some reason not satisfactorily explained, calling them- selves vice-chancellors. Cardinal Allicrto was one of the two legates despatched to England by Alexander III to investigate the murder of St. Thomas k Becket. He also, in the pope's name, placed the royal crown on Alfonso II of Portugal. He was universally beloved for the mildness and gentleness of his disposition ; and was no sooner seated on the pontifical throne than he confirmed the popular estimate of his character by making overtures to Barbarossa for a reconciliation with the Church. Since the dominant policy of his pontificate must be a crusade for the recovery of the Holy Sepulchre, he issued circular letters to all the faithful, enjoining prayers and fasts; and as peace be- tween the rival seaports of Pisa and Genoa was an essential condition to the transportation of troops and supplies, he repaired to the former city, where he was overtaken by death. He was buried m the cathedral of Pisa with all possible honours, and was succeeded by Clement III.

Liber Pontificalia, cd. DuciiKSNE, 11,451; Watterich. Vita Pcmt. Rom., II. 683-92; Bihl. de VEcnle des Charles (1881). XLII. 166; Nadig, Gregors VIII S7 tagiges Pontifikal (Basle, 1890).

James F. Louohlin.

Gregory VIII, Antipope, was Mauritius Bur- dinus (Bordinho, Bourdin), who was placed upon the papal chair by Emperor Henry V, 8 March, 1118. Bourdin was a Frenchman, born probably at Limoges. He received a good education at Cluny, and followed his fellow-Benedictine, Bernard, Archbishop of Toledo and Primate of Spain, be- yond the Pyrenees. At a time when Cluny stood for learning and reform, his advancement was assured. In 1098, he was made Bishop of Coimbra (Gams) ; in 1111, he was raised to the Metropolitan See of Braga. Three years later, in consetiuence of a quarrel with the primate, he was suspended by Paschal II. Coming later to Rome, he so ingratiated himself with the pon- tiff, who was also a Cluniac, that he was retained at court and employed on weighty affairs. In 1117, when Henry came to Rome to force his terms upon the pope, Paschal, safe in Renevonto, sent Bourdin with some cardinals to negotiate with the riiiperor. This mi.ssion proved to be the downfall of Bourdin. Se- duced from his Gregorian principles, he openly es- poused the cause of Henry, and, to emphasize his apostasy, placed the crown upon the emperor on Easter Day. He was promptly excommunicated; but was marked out for the supreme dignify by his new associates. A few months later, when Henry, learning of Paschal's death, hastened to Rome, sur- rounded by jurists, only to find that he had been outw'itted I\y the vigilance of the cardinals, failing to capture Gelasius, he declared the hitter's election null, and, after :i discourse by the learned Iriicrius of Bo- logna on imperial rights, induced a bribed assembly of Romans to proclaim Bourdin pope, who with uncon- scious irony took the name of Gregory. The honours