Innocent IV (pope 1243 to 1254): Allowed torture in 1252, deposed Frederick II, had a crusade preached against him and gave Sicilian offices to relatives

Sinibaldo Fieschi became pope in 1243. At the Council of Lyons in 1245 he deposed Emperor Frederick II, in 1249 he had a crusade preached against him, and he continued the struggle against Conrad IV and Manfred with unrelenting severity. The Britannica speaks of characteristic nepotism in filling Sicilian offices. In 1252, with Ad extirpanda, he approved torture; see the entry on the Inquisition.

Life dates

1243-1254 (about 11 years old)

Country

Italy, Vatican City

Institutions

Holy See

Category

Torture, Crusade

Level of evidence

B two independent scholarly sources · what does this mean?

Background

Response of the Church

1. After Frederick's death, according to the Catholic Encyclopedia, he continued the struggle against Conrad IV and Manfred with unrelenting severity. According to the Britannica, with all too characteristic nepotism he filled the most important offices of the Sicilian kingdom with his relations.
   Evidence: Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource), Artikel Pope Innocent IV

   „he continued the struggle against Conrad IV and Manfred with unrelenting severity“

   Evidence: Cambridge University Press (Wikisource), Artikel Innocent IV

   „with all too characteristic nepotism, exercised his rights over the Sicilian kingdom by nominating his own relations“

See also

• 1231-1542 · 311 years

  The Inquisition: origins, procedure, punishments

  • Germany
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Vatican City
  • Expropriation
  • Torture
  • Heresy trials
  • Persecution
• Person 1281-1285 · about 4 years old

  Martin IV (pope 1281 to 1285): Charles of Anjou forced his election; he excommunicated the Byzantine emperor, broke the union of Lyons and had a crusade preached against Peter III of Aragon

  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Vatican City
  • Crusade

Scholarly literature and reference works

1. Reference work
   Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource): Pope Innocent IV, in: Catholic Encyclopedia (1910), Bd. 8, 1 January 1910. Original (retrieved 31 Oct 2026)
2. Reference work
   Cambridge University Press (Wikisource): Innocent (Innocent IV), in: Encyclopædia Britannica (1911), Bd. 14, 1 January 1911. Original (retrieved 31 Oct 2026)

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