Adrian IV (pope 1154 to 1159): According to John of Salisbury he granted Ireland to Henry II on the basis of the forged Donation of Constantine; the bull Laudabiliter is disputed

Adrian IV placed Rome under an interdict because of Arnold of Brescia. John of Salisbury writes that the pope granted Ireland to Henry II by hereditary right because all islands belonged to the Roman Church under the Donation of Constantine. The Britannica calls the Donation forged and the bull Laudabiliter not genuine; the Catholic Encyclopedia distinguishes it from the letter of investiture mentioned.

Life dates

1154-1159 (about 5 years old)

Country

Ireland, Italy, United Kingdom

Institutions

Holy See

Category

Forgery, Colonialism

Level of evidence

B two independent scholarly sources · what does this mean?

Background

Response of the Church

1. John of Salisbury writes in the Metalogicus that at his request the pope gave Hibernia to Henry II by hereditary right, since under the Donation of Constantine all islands belonged to the Roman Church. He also sent a gold ring with an emerald for the investiture.
   Evidence: Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource), Artikel Pope Adrian IV

   „he gave and granted Hibernia to Henry II, the illustrious King of England, to hold by hereditary right“

   Evidence: Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource), Artikel Pope Adrian IV

   „according to the Donation of Constantine, are said to belong to the Roman Church“

2. The Britannica, following Thatcher, says the claim rested on the forged Donation of Constantine, that the bull Laudabiliter is not genuine and that Henry's title rested on conquest. The Catholic Encyclopedia distinguishes Laudabiliter from the letter of investiture.
   Evidence: Cambridge University Press (Wikisource), Artikel Adrian (popes)

   „The much-discussed bull Laudabiliter is, however, not genuine.“

   Evidence: Cambridge University Press (Wikisource), Artikel Adrian (popes)

   „based on the forged Donation of Constantine“

See also

• 750-1440 · 690 years

  Donation of Constantine, a forged charter on papal rights of rule

  • France
  • Italy
  • Vatican City
  • Forgery
• Person 1139-1155 · about 16 years old

  Arnold of Brescia

  • France
  • Italy
  • Switzerland
  • Heresy trials
  • Murder
  • Persecution

Scholarly literature and reference works

1. Reference work
   Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource): Pope Adrian IV, in: Catholic Encyclopedia (1907), Bd. 1, 1 January 1907. Original (retrieved 31 Oct 2026)
2. Reference work
   Cambridge University Press (Wikisource): Adrian (popes), in: Encyclopædia Britannica (1911), Bd. 1, 1 January 1911. Original (retrieved 31 Oct 2026)

Last changed on 31 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.