Papal Pandemonium: Quarterfinal #7

Papal Pandemonium 2015
Quarterfinals									Semifinals			Finals
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	1	2	3	Results

For more info on Popes, visit New Advent's Catholic Encyclopedia

You guys apparently like the “fictional character” Popes! Linus and Felix flew through to the next round, with Eleutherius picking up the third slot in Thursday’s battle.

We’re nearing the end of our prelims. The semifinals will start next Tuesday; before then, we have three more nonets to sort through.

Today’s match-up is very much unlike the rest: 8 of the 9 names have been used multiple times.

Alexander – used 7 times (last: 1691)

Derivation: Greek, defender of men

I✝	II	III	IV	V
105–115	1061–1073	1159–1181	1254–1261	antipope

VI	VII	VIII
1492–1503	1655–1667	1689–1691

Alexander VI, born Roderic Llançol i de Borja, broke his vow of celibacy and had several children – including a daughter named Lucretia. (You might know their last name better as the Italian Borgia.) Martin Luther was not a fan.

Clement – used 14 times (last: 1774)

Derivation: Latin, mild, merciful

I✝	II	III	IV	V
88–97	1046–1047	1187–1191	1265–1268	1305–1314

VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
1342–1352	1523–1534	1592–1605	1667–1669	1670–1676

XI	XII	XIII	XIV
1700–1721	1730–1740	1758–1769	1769–1774

Speaking of famous families, Clement VII was a Medici.

Eugene – used 4 times (last: 1447)

Derivation: Greek, well-born

I✝	II	III*	IV
655–657	824–827	1145–1153	1431–1447

Early in his tenure, Eugene III issued a papal bull calling for the Second Crusade.

Formosus (891–896)

Derivation: Latin, good-looking

Formosus was the victim of perhaps the most bizarre episode in papal history: the Cadaver Synod. In 897, Pope Stephen VI had Formosus’s body exhumed and placed on trial for usurpation of the throne. He was found guilty, his papacy was annulled, and his body was thrown into the Tiber.

Stephen VI quickly became unpopular; he was soon strangled. Successive popes reversed his findings and banned posthumous trials.

Gelasius – used 2 times (last: 1119)

Derivation: Latin, laughter

I✝	II
492–496	1118–1119

The first Gelasius was born in Africa; he argued that since his power was derived from God, it trumped that of any king.

Innocent – used 13 times (last: 1724)

Derivation: Latin, innocent

I✝	II	III	IV	V*
401–417	1130–1143	1198–1216	1243–1254	1276

VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
1352–1362	1404–1406	1484–1492	1591	1644–1655

XI*	XII	XIII
1676–1689	1691–1700	1721–1724

Innocent I was probably the son of his predecessor, Anastasius I.

Paschal – used 2 times (last: 1118)

Derivation: Latin, of Easter or Passover

I✝	II	III
817–824	1099–1118	antipope

Antipope Paschal III went head-to-head with the legitimate Alexander III.

Urban – used 8 times (last: 1644)

Derivation: Latin, city-dweller

I✝	II*	III	IV	V*
222–230	1088–1099	1185–1187	1261–1264	1362–1370

VI	VII	VIII
1378–1389	1590	1623–1644

Urban VII was Pope for just 12 days – the shortest of any consecrated Pontiff. During that time, he managed to ban the use of tobacco in church (under threat of excommunication, of course).

Victor – used 3 times (last: 1087)

Derivation: Latin, conqueror

I✝	II	III*	IV	IV
189–199	1055–1057	1086–1087	antipope	antipope

Victor I was the first African pope, hailing from outside of Tripoli, Libya.

There were two Antipopes named Victor IV, both of whom “served” in the 12th century.