Kirchenakte Documented events from judgments, reports and church documents
Person 1281-1285 · about 4 years old · show in timeline

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

Simon de Brie was elected at Viterbo in 1281 after Charles of Anjou had two influential cardinals imprisoned. As pope he remained wholly dependent on Charles and made him Roman senator. He excommunicated Emperor Michael Palaeologus, thereby breaking the union with the Greeks of 1274. After the Sicilian Vespers he excommunicated Peter III of Aragon, declared his kingdom forfeited and had a crusade preached against him. A popular uprising drove him from Rome, and he died at Perugia in 1285.

Life dates
1281-1285 (about 4 years old)
Country
Italy, Spain, Vatican City
Institutions
Holy See
Category
Crusade
Level of evidence
B two independent scholarly sources · what does this mean?

What happened to the people

How were they charged and sentenced?

  1. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, his election on 22 February 1281 was due to Charles of Anjou, who at Viterbo had the two most influential cardinals of the Italian faction imprisoned before the conclave. The Britannica speaks of Charles's influence after a six-month struggle.
    Evidence: Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource), Abs. 1
    „caused the two most influential cardinals of the Italian faction to be imprisoned“
    Pope Martin IV, in: Catholic Encyclopedia (1910), Bd. 9, Abs. 1. Original
    Evidence: Cambridge University Press (Wikisource), Martin IV.
    „six-months’ struggle between the French and Italian cardinals“
    Martin (popes), in: Encyclopædia Britannica (1911), Bd. 17, Martin IV.. Original

What happened to those affected?

  1. He excommunicated Emperor Michael Palaeologus in November 1281, who stood in the way of Charles's plans. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia this broke the union between the Greek and Latin Churches concluded at Lyons in 1274.
    Evidence: Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource), Abs. 1
    „By this imprudent act he broke the union“
    Pope Martin IV, in: Catholic Encyclopedia (1910), Bd. 9, Abs. 1. Original
    Evidence: Cambridge University Press (Wikisource), Martin IV.
    „His excommunication of the emperor Michael Palaeologus (Nov. 1281)“
    Martin (popes), in: Encyclopædia Britannica (1911), Bd. 17, Martin IV.. Original
  2. A popular uprising drove him from Rome, and he died at Perugia on 28 March 1285.
    Evidence: Cambridge University Press (Wikisource), Martin IV.
    „He was driven from Rome by a popular uprising and died at Perugia“
    Martin (popes), in: Encyclopædia Britannica (1911), Bd. 17, Martin IV.. Original

Background

Course of events

  1. After the Sicilian Vespers of 1282 he excommunicated Peter III of Aragon, whom the Sicilians had elected king, declared his kingdom of Aragon forfeited and ordered a crusade to be preached against him. According to the Britannica he used all spiritual and material resources for Charles for three years.
    Evidence: Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource), Abs. 1
    „declared his kingdom of Aragon forfeited and ordered a crusade to be preached against him“
    Pope Martin IV, in: Catholic Encyclopedia (1910), Bd. 9, Abs. 1. Original
    Evidence: Cambridge University Press (Wikisource), Martin IV.
    „he employed all the spiritual and material resources at his command“
    Martin (popes), in: Encyclopædia Britannica (1911), Bd. 17, Martin IV.. Original

Response of the Church

  1. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia he was dependent on Charles in everything and at once made him Roman senator. The Britannica writes that he relied completely on Charles and unduly favoured his own countrymen.
    Evidence: Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource), Abs. 1
    „dependent in everything on Charles of Anjou“
    Pope Martin IV, in: Catholic Encyclopedia (1910), Bd. 9, Abs. 1. Original
    Evidence: Cambridge University Press (Wikisource), Martin IV.
    „he relied completely on Charles of Anjou“
    Martin (popes), in: Encyclopædia Britannica (1911), Bd. 17, Martin IV.. Original
    Evidence: Cambridge University Press (Wikisource), Martin IV.
    „He unduly favoured his own countrymen“
    Martin (popes), in: Encyclopædia Britannica (1911), Bd. 17, Martin IV.. Original

See also

Scholarly literature and reference works

  1. Reference work
    Cambridge University Press (Wikisource): Martin (popes), in: Encyclopædia Britannica (1911), Bd. 17, 1 January 1911. Original (retrieved 31 Oct 2026)
  2. Reference work
    Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource): Pope Martin IV, in: Catholic Encyclopedia (1910), Bd. 9, 1 January 1910. Original (retrieved 31 Oct 2026)
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Last changed on 31 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.