Editing Pope Honorius II

{{Short description|Head of the Catholic Church from 1124 to 1130}}
{{distinguish|Antipope Honorius II}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
|type=Pope
|honorific-prefix=[[List of popes|Pope]]
|name=Honorius II
|title= [[Bishop of Rome]]
|church= [[Catholic Church]]
|image=Schussenried_Kloster_Deckengemälde_Treppenhaus_2_detail02.jpg
|caption=Honorius II depicted in a [[fresco]] at the [[Schussenried Abbey]]
|birth_name=Lamberto Scannabecchi
|term_start=21 December 1124
|term_end=13 February 1130
|predecessor=[[Callixtus II]]
|successor=[[Innocent II]]
|consecration=1117
|cardinal=1099
|created_cardinal_by=[[Urban II]]
|birth_date=9 February 1060
|birth_place= Fiagnano, [[Papal States]], [[Holy Roman Empire]]
|death_date=13 February 1130 (aged 70)
|death_place=[[Rome]], [[Papal States]], [[Holy Roman Empire]]
|previous_post={{unbulleted list|Cardinal-Priest of [[Santa Prassede]] (1099–1117)|[[Bishop of Ostia]] (1117–1124)}}<ref name=cathen />
|other=Honorius}}

'''Pope Honorius II''' (9 February 1060 – 13 February 1130), born '''Lamberto Scannabecchi''',<ref name="Levillain, pg. 731">Levillain, pg. 731</ref> was head of the [[Catholic Church]] and ruler of the [[Papal States]] from 21 December 1124 to his death in 1130.

Although from a humble background, his obvious intellect and outstanding abilities saw him promoted up through the ecclesiastical hierarchy. Attached to the [[Frangipani family]] of [[Rome]], his [[Papal conclave|election]] as [[pope]] was contested by a rival candidate, [[Antipope Celestine II|Celestine II]], and force was used to guarantee his election.

Honorius's pontificate was concerned with ensuring that the privileges the Roman Catholic Church had obtained through the [[Concordat of Worms]] were preserved and, if possible, extended. He was the first pope to confirm the election of the [[Holy Roman emperor]]. Distrustful of the traditional [[Benedictine]] order, he favoured new monastic orders, such as the [[Augustinians]] and the [[Cistercians]], and sought to exercise more control over the larger monastic centres of [[Monte Cassino]] and [[Cluny Abbey]]. He also approved the new military order of the [[Knights Templar]] in 1128.

Honorius II failed to prevent [[Roger II of Sicily]] from extending his power in southern Italy and was unable to stop [[Louis VI of France]] from interfering in the affairs of the French church. Like his predecessors, he managed the wide-ranging affairs of the church through [[Papal Legate]]s. With his death in 1130, the Church was again thrown into confusion with the election of two rival popes, [[Innocent II]] and the [[antipope Anacletus II]].

==Early life==

Lamberto was of simple rural origins, hailing from Fiagnano in the [[Casalfiumanese]] commune, near [[Imola]] in present-day [[Italy]].<ref name="Levillain, pg. 731" /> Entering into an ecclesiastical career, he soon became [[archdeacon]] of [[Bologna]],<ref name="Levillain, pg. 731" /> where his abilities eventually saw him attract the attention of [[Pope Urban II]],<ref name="Mann, pg. 234">Mann, pg. 234.</ref> who presumably appointed him [[cardinal priest]] of an unknown church,<ref>Hüls, pg. 215, no. 13. The date of appointment is unknown, the titulus is unknown, and there are no surviving subscriptions until 1116.</ref> in c. 1099,<ref>Hüls, pg. 197, no. 3, points out that Romanus became cardinal of S. Prassede in 1106 at the latest, and he is still there in 1112. Desiderius succeeded him at S. Prassede by 1116, and went over to the Anacletan Obedience in 1130.</ref> though S. Prassede has been discussed.<ref>though the ''Titulus [[Santa Prassede|St. Praxedis]]'', The titulus of S. Prassede is a suggestion of Ciaconius (Alfonso Chacón), in: [https://books.google.com/books?id=a6xM3BmWwOwC ''Vitae et res gestae Pontificum romanorum et S.R.E. Cardinalium''] second ed. (ed. Augustinus Olduin) Tomus I (Rome: Filippo and Antonio Rossi 1677), pg. 909; Hüls remarks, "Diese Angabe bei Ciaconius... is nicht überprüfbar; in die Kardinalsliste von S. Prassede lieẞe sich jedoch Lambert gut einfügen."</ref> His successor, [[Pope Paschal II]], made Lamberto a [[Canons Regular of the Lateran|Canon]] of the [[Lateran]]<ref name="Thomas, p. 90">Thomas, pg. 90.</ref><ref>G. Trombelli, ''Memorie istoriche cocern. le due canoniche di S. Maria di Reno e di S. Salvatore'' {{in lang|it}} (Bologna 1752), pg. 207.</ref> before elevating him to the position of [[cardinal bishop]] of [[Bishop of Ostia|Ostia]] in 1117.<ref name="Levillain, pg. 731" /> Lamberto was one of the cardinals who accompanied [[Pope Gelasius II]] into exile in 1118–19 and was at his bedside when Gelasius died.<ref name="Mann, pg. 234" />

With Gelasius's death at Cluny on 28 January 1119, Cardinal Lamberto and Cardinal Cono (Bishop of Palestrina) conducted the election of a new pope according to the canons.  Cardinal Lamberto carried out the coronation of Guy de Bourgogne at Vienne on 9 February 1119, and became a close advisor of [[Pope Callixtus II]].<ref name="Levillain, pg. 731" />  Accompanying Callixtus throughout France, he assisted Callixtus in his initial dealings with [[Holy Roman Emperor]] [[Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry V]].<ref name="Mann, pg. 234" /> As a well-known opponent of the emperor's right to select bishops in his territories (the [[Investiture Controversy]]), Lamberto was a natural choice for papal legate. He was sent in 1119 to deal with Henry V and delegated with powers to come to an understanding concerning the right of investiture.<ref name="Mann, pg. 234" />

Forceful and determined, he summoned the bishops of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] to attend an assembly at [[Mainz]] on 8 September 1122. He expected absolute obedience, so much so that it took the mediation of Archbishop [[Adalbert I of Mainz|Adalbert of Mainz]] to prevent the suspension of Saint [[Otto of Bamberg]] for non-attendance.<ref name="Mann, pg. 235">Mann, pg. 235</ref> The struggle came to a conclusion with the [[Concordat of Worms]] in 1122 and the "''Pactum Calixtinum''" that was almost entirely due to Lamberto's efforts<ref name="Mann, pg. 235" /> was effected on 23 September 1123.

==Pontificate==

===Conclave of 1124===
Pressures building within the [[Curia]], together with ongoing conflicts among the Roman nobility, would erupt after the death of Callixtus II in 1124.<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732">Levillain, pg. 732</ref> The pontificates of Urban II and Paschal II saw an expansion in the [[College of Cardinals]] of Italian clerics that strengthened the local Roman influence. These cardinals were reluctant to meet with the batch of cardinals recently promoted by Callixtus II, who were mainly [[France|French]] or [[Duchy of Burgundy|Burgundian]].<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" /> As far as the older cardinals were concerned, these newer cardinals were dangerous innovators, and they were determined to resist their increasing influence.<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" /> The northern cardinals, led by Cardinal Aymeric de Bourgogne (the [[Chancery of Apostolic Briefs|Papal Chancellor]]), were equally determined to ensure that the elected pope would be one of their candidates.<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" /> Both groups looked towards the great Roman families for support.

[[File:Coliseo medieval.jpg|thumb|The area of medieval Rome controlled by the [[Frangipani family]]]]
By 1124, there were two great factions dominating local politics in Rome: the [[Frangipani family]], which controlled the region around the fortified [[Colosseum]] and supported the northern cardinals,<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" /> and the [[Pierleoni family]], which controlled the [[Tiber Island]] and the fortress of the [[Theatre of Marcellus]] and supported the Italian cardinals.<ref name="Mann, pg. 231">Mann, pg. 231</ref> With Callixtus II's death on 13 December 1124, both families agreed that the election of the next pope should be in three days time, in accordance with the church canons. The Frangipani, led by Leo Frangipani, pushed for the delay in order that they could promote their preferred candidate, Lamberto,<ref name="Mann, pg. 231" /> but the people were eager to see Saxo de Anagni, the Cardinal-Priest of San Stefano in Celiomonte elected as the next pope.<ref name="Mann, pg. 231" /> Leo, eager to ensure a valid election, approached key members of every Cardinal's entourage, promising each one that he would support their master when the voting for the election was underway.<ref name="Mann, pg. 232">Mann, pg. 232</ref>

On 16 December, all the Cardinals, including Lamberto, assembled in the chapel of the monastery of St. Pancratius attached to the south of the Lateran basilica.<ref name="Mann, pg. 232" /> There, at the suggestion of [[Jonathan (cardinal)|Jonathas]], the cardinal-deacon of [[Santi Cosma e Damiano (Rome)|Santi Cosma e Damiano]], who was a partisan of the Pierleoni family,<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" /> the Cardinals unanimously elected as Pope the Cardinal-Priest of Sant'Anastasia, Theobaldo Boccapecci, who took the name [[Antipope Celestine II|Celestine II]].<ref name="Thomas, pg. 90">Thomas, pg. 90</ref> He had only just put on the red mantle and the ''[[Te Deum]]'' was being sung when an armed party of Frangipani supporters (in a move pre-arranged with Cardinal Aymeric)<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" /> burst in, attacked the newly enthroned Celestine, who was wounded, and acclaimed Lamberto as Pope.<ref name="Thomas, pg. 90" /> Since Celestine had not been formally consecrated pope, the wounded candidate declared himself willing to resign, but the Pierleoni family and their supporters refused to accept Lamberto,<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" /> who in the confusion had been proclaimed Pope under the name Honorius II.<ref name="Mann, pg. 233">Mann, pg. 233</ref>

Rome descended into factional infighting, while Cardinal Aymeric and Leo Frangipani attempted to win over the resistance of Urban, the City Prefect, and the Pierleoni family with bribes and extravagant promises.<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" /> Eventually, Celestine's supporters abandoned him, leaving Honorius the only contender for the papal throne.<ref name="Mann, pg. 233" /> Honorius, unwilling to accept the throne in such a manner, resigned his position before all of the assembled Cardinals,<ref name="Mann, pg. 233" /> but was immediately and unanimously re-elected and consecrated on 21 December 1124.<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" />

==Papacy==

===Relations with the Holy Roman Empire===

Honorius immediately came into conflict with Emperor Henry V over imperial claims in Italy.<ref>Mann, pg. 237</ref> In 1116, Henry had crossed the [[Alps]] to lay claim to the Italian territories of [[Matilda of Tuscany]], which she had supposedly left to the papacy on her death.<ref name="Mann, pg. 238">Mann, pg. 238</ref> Henry had immediately begun appointing imperial vicars throughout the newly acquired province over the objections of both the Tuscan cities and the papacy.<ref name="Mann, pg. 238" /> To maintain papal claims to Tuscany, Honorius appointed Albert, a papal [[marquis]], to rule in the pope's name in opposition to the imperial [[Margrave of Tuscany]], Conrad von Scheiern.<ref name="Mann, pg. 238" /> In addition, Henry V made very little effort to implement the terms of the Concordant of Worms, to Honorius II's irritation.<ref name="Mann, pg. 238" /> Local churches were forced to appeal to Rome to obtain restitution from the imperial bishops who had taken advantage of the Investiture Controversy to obtain property for their own benefit, as the Emperor turned a blind eye.<ref>Mann, pg. 239</ref>

[[File:Urkunde Wormser Konkordat.jpg|thumb|The [[Concordat of Worms]], which Honorius II helped to draft and which Emperor [[Lothair III]] was forced to comply with for Papal support]]
The death of Emperor Henry V on 23 May 1125 put an end to these squabbles, but soon Honorius was involved in a new power struggle in the [[Holy Roman Empire]]. Henry died childless and had nominated his nephew [[Frederick II, Duke of Swabia|Frederick Hohenstaufen]], [[Duke of Swabia]], to succeed him as [[King of the Romans]] and Holy Roman Emperor.<ref name="Mann, pg. 240">Mann, pg. 240</ref> Of the German princes, the ecclesiastical faction was against any expansion of Hohenstaufen power,<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" /> and they were determined to ensure that Frederick would not succeed Henry. Led by [[Archbishop of Mainz|Archbishop]] [[Adalbert I of Mainz|Adalbert of Mainz]], the [[archchancellor]] of the empire, and under the watchful gaze of two papal legates, Cardinals [[Pope Lucius II|Gherardo]] and Romano, the clerical and lay nobles of the empire elected [[Lothair of Supplinburg]], [[Duke of Saxony]].<ref name="Mann, pg. 241">Mann, pg. 241</ref> At Lothair's request,<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" /> Cardinal Gherardo and two bishops then sent word to Rome to obtain Honorius's confirmation of the election, which he granted.<ref name="Mann, pg. 241" /> This was a coup for Honorius, as such a confirmation had never occurred before,<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" /> and around July 1126 Honorius invited Lothair to Rome to obtain the imperial title.<ref name="Mann, pg. 241" /> Lothair was keen to keep Honorius on his side, keeping to the terms of the Concordat of Worms by not attending episcopal elections, agreeing that the investiture should only occur after the bishop's consecration, and that the oath of homage be replaced with an oath of fidelity.<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" />

Lothair was unable to visit Rome immediately as Germany was rocked by the rebellion of the Hohenstaufen brothers, with [[Conrad III of Germany|Conrad Hohenstaufen]] elected anti-king in December 1127, followed by his descent into Italy and his crowning as [[King of Italy]] at [[Monza]] on 29 July 1128.<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" /> The German bishops, again led by Adalbert of Mainz, [[excommunicated]] Conrad, an act that was confirmed by Honorius in a [[synod]] held in Rome at [[Easter]] (22 April 1128).<ref>Mann, pg. 242</ref> Honorius also sent Cardinal John of Crema to [[Pisa]] to hold another synod that excommunicated [[Anselm V (Archbishop of Milan)|Archbishop Anselm of Milan]], who had crowned Conrad king.<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" /> Conrad found little help in Italy and with Honorius's support, Lothair was able to keep his throne.<ref>Mann, pg. 243</ref>

One of the key ecclesiastical advisors of Lothair III was Saint [[Norbert of Xanten]],<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" /> who travelled to Rome in early 1126<ref name="Mann, pg. 244">Mann, pg. 244</ref> to seek the formal sanction from Honorius to establish a new monastic order, the [[Premonstratensian Order]] (also known as the Norbertines),<ref name="Thomas, pg. 90" /> which Honorius agreed to do.<ref name="Mann, pg. 244" />

===Concerns in Campania===
One of Honorius's first tasks in southern Italy was to deal with the barons in the [[Campania]] who were molesting farmers and travellers at will with their armed bands.<ref name="Mann, pg. 246">Mann, pg. 246</ref> In 1125, papal force brought to heel the lords of [[Ceccano]]. Papal armies took possession of various towns, including [[Maenza]], [[Roccasecca]] and [[Trevi nel Lazio]].<ref name="Mann, pg. 246" /> In 1128, Honorius's forces successfully captured the town of [[Segni]], which was also held by a local baron who died during its capture.<ref name="Mann, pg. 252">Mann, pg. 252</ref> Honorius, however, was most concerned about the former papal stronghold at [[Fumone]], which the nobles, who held it in the pope's name, had decided to keep possession of. The town fell in July 1125 after a siege of ten weeks.<ref name="Mann, pg. 246" /> When Honorius took possession of Fumone, he returned it, after taking safeguards, to its rebellious custodians and ordered that the [[Antipope Gregory VIII]] be transferred there from his previous lodgings at [[Monte Cassino]].<ref>Mann, pg. 247</ref> With that, Honorius turned his attention to the powerful and independent-minded [[abbot]] of Monte Cassino, [[Oderisio di Sangro]].

Honorius had a long-standing dislike of Oderisio going back to the time when Honorius was cardinal-bishop of Ostia.<ref name="Mann, pg. 248">Mann, pg. 248</ref> Honorius had asked for permission from the abbot to allow him and his entourage permission to stay in the church of [[San Sebastiano al Palatino|Santa Maria in Pallara]], which was a traditional privilege belonging to the bishops of Ostia.<ref name="Mann, pg. 248" /> Oderisio refused, and Honorius never forgot the insult. These bad feelings were compounded in 1125, when Oderisio refused a request from Pope Honorius for some financial assistance after he had been enthroned.<ref name="Mann, pg. 248" /> Oderisio also mocked Honorius's peasant background behind his back.<ref name="Mann, pg. 249">Mann, pg. 249</ref>

Using reports that the abbot had been lining his own pockets rather than spending it on his monastery, Honorius publicly denounced Oderisio, calling him a soldier and a thief, not a monk.<ref name="Mann, pg. 249" /> When Atenulf, count of [[Aquino, Italy|Aquino]], brought accusations that Oderisio was aiming for the papacy, Honorius summoned Oderisio to [[Rome]] to answer the charges.<ref name="Mann, pg. 249" /> Three times Oderisio refused to answer the summons and so during [[Lent]] of 1126, Honorius deposed the abbot.<ref name="Mann, pg. 249" /> Oderisio refused to accept the deposition and continued to act as abbot, forcing Honorius to excommunicate him.<ref name="Mann, pg. 249" /> Oderisio fortified the monastery, as the people of the town of [[Cassino]] forcibly entered the monastery, and after an armed struggle forced the monks to declare Oderisio deposed and to elect another abbot in his place.<ref>Mann, pgs. 249–250</ref> The monks elected Niccolo, the dean of the monastery.<ref name="Mann, pg. 249" />

Determined to bring the [[Benedictines]] to heel,<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" /> Honorius insisted that the election of Niccolo was uncanonical, and demanded that [[Seniorectus]], the [[provost (religion)|provost]] of the monastery at [[Capua]], be elected as abbot, to the fury of the Monte Cassino monks.<ref name="Mann, pg. 250">Mann, pg. 250</ref> In the meantime, open warfare was being waged between the supporters of Oderisio and Niccolo. Eventually, however, Honorius was able to secure not only the resignation of Oderisio, but he also excommunicated Niccolo for good measure.<ref name="Mann, pg. 250" /> He reassured the monks of his intentions, and in September 1127, he personally installed Seniorectus as abbot.<ref name="Mann, pg. 251">Mann, pg. 251</ref> Honorius also insisted that the monks take an oath of fidelity to the papacy, but they strenuously objected.<ref name="Mann, pg. 251" />

===Conflict with Roger II of Sicily===
[[File:Roger II Sicily.jpg|thumb|[[Roger II of Sicily]] who forced Pope Honorius II to grant him the Duchy of Apulia]]
Matters to the south of Monte Cassino soon occupied Honorius's attention. In July 1127, [[William II, Duke of Apulia]], died childless, and almost immediately his cousin King [[Roger II of Sicily]] sailed to the mainland to occupy the duchies of Apulia and Calabria.<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" /> Roger claimed that William had nominated him his heir,<ref name="Mann, pg. 252"/> while Honorius stated that William had left his territory to the [[Holy See]].<ref name="Mann, pg. 253">Mann, pg. 253</ref> Honorius had just suffered a defeat at the hands of a local baron at [[Arpino]] in 1127 when Honorius received word that Roger had landed in Italy.<ref name="Mann, pg. 253" /> He rushed to [[Benevento]] to prevent the local Normans from reaching an agreement with Roger.<ref name="Mann, pg. 253" /> Roger in the meantime had rapidly overrun the duchy of Apulia and had sent Honorius lavish gifts, asking the Pope to recognise him as the new duke and promising to hand over [[Troia, Apulia|Troia]] and [[Montefusco]] in exchange.<ref name="Mann, pg. 253" /> Honorius, fearing the expansion of Norman power to the south under one dominating ruler, threatened to excommunicate Roger if he persisted.<ref name="Mann, pg. 253" /> In the meantime, many of the local Norman nobles, fearful of Roger's power, allied themselves with Honorius, as Honorius formally excommunicated Roger in November 1127.<ref name="Mann, pg. 254">Mann, pg. 254</ref> Roger left his armies threatening Benevento, while he returned to [[Sicily]] for reinforcements. Honorius in the meantime entered into an alliance with the new [[Prince of Capua]], [[Robert II of Capua|Robert II]]. On 30 December 1127, Honorius preached a [[crusade]] against Roger II after having anointed Robert as Prince of Capua.<ref name="Mann, pg. 254" />

Roger returned in May 1128 and continued to harass papal strongholds while avoiding any direct confrontation with Honorius's forces. In July 1128, the two armies came in contact with each other on the banks of the [[Bradano]], but Roger refused to engage, believing that the papal armies would soon fall apart, and soon enough some of the Pope's allies began deserting to Roger.<ref name="Mann, pg. 255">Mann, pg. 255</ref> Trying to salvage something of the situation, Honorius sent his trusted advisor Cardinal Aymeric together with [[Cencio II Frangipane]] to negotiate with Roger secretly.<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" /> Honorius agreed to invest Roger with the duchy of Apulia in exchange for an oath of faith and homage by Roger.<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" />

Honorius travelled to Benevento, and after safeguarding the interests of Robert of Capua,<ref name="Mann, pg. 255" /> he met Roger on the Pons Major, the bridge which crosses the Sabbato river near Benevento, on 22 August 1128. There, he formally invested Roger with the duchy of Apulia and both agreed to a peace between the Kingdom of Sicily and the [[Papal States]].<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" /> Unfortunately, Honorius had just returned to Rome when he was informed that the nobles of Benevento had overthrown and killed the [[Rector (ecclesiastical)|rector]] (or papal governor) of the city and established a Commune.<ref name="Mann, pg. 256">Mann, pg. 256</ref> Furious, he declared he would wreak a terrible vengeance on the city, whereupon the residents asked Honorius for forgiveness and to send another governor.<ref name="Mann, pg. 256" /> Honorius sent Cardinal [[Pope Lucius II|Gherardo]] as the new rector, and in 1129 visited the city again, asking that the city allow the return of those they had banished during the formation of the Commune. They refused, and Honorius asked Roger II of Sicily to punish the city in May 1130, but Honorius died before action was taken.<ref name="Mann, pg. 256" />

===Intervention in France===
Aside from the Benedictines at Monte Cassino, Honorius was also determined to deal with the monks at [[Cluny Abbey]] under their ambitious and worldly [[Abbot of Cluny|abbot]], [[Pons of Melgueil]].<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" /> He had just returned from the [[Levant]] after being forced out by his monks in 1122.<ref name="Mann, pg. 260">Mann, pg. 260</ref> In 1125, accompanied by an armed following, Pons took possession of Cluny Abbey, melted down the treasures stored in the monastery, and paid his followers, who continued to terrorise the monks and the villages dependent upon the abbey.<ref name="Mann, pg. 260" />

Honorius, on hearing news of the disorders at Cluny, sent a legate to investigate with orders to excommunicate and denounce Pons and order him to present himself before Honorius.<ref>Mann, pgs. 260–261</ref> Pons eventually obeyed the summons, and was deposed by Honorius in 1126<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" /> before being imprisoned in the [[Septizodium]], where he soon died.<ref name="Mann, pg. 261">Mann, pg. 261</ref> Honorius personally reinvested [[Peter the Venerable]] as Abbot of Cluny.<ref name="Mann, pg. 261" />

Honorius soon became involved in the quarrel between King [[Louis VI of France]] and the French bishops.<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" /> [[Stephen of Senlis]], the [[Bishop of Paris]], had been heavily influenced by the reforming zeal of [[Bernard of Clairvaux]], and actively sought to remove royal influence in the French church.<ref name="Mann, pg. 262">Mann, pg. 262</ref> Louis confiscated Stephen's wealth and began harassing him so that he would cease his reforming activities.<ref name="Mann, pg. 262" /> At the same time, Louis also had in his sights [[Henri Sanglier]], the [[Archbishop of Sens]], who had also joined the reformers.<ref name="Mann, pg. 264">Mann, pg. 264</ref> Charging Henri with [[simony]], Louis attempted to remove another threat from within the French church.<ref name="Mann, pg. 264" /> Bernard of Clairvaux wrote to Honorius asking him to intervene on behalf of both men and support church independence over the claims of royal jurisdiction and interference.<ref name="Mann, pg. 265">Mann, pg. 265</ref>

Royal pressure was also brought to bear on [[Hildebert of Lavardin]], whom Honorius had transferred from the see of [[Le Mans]] to become the [[Archbishop of Tours]] in 1125.<ref>Mann, pg. 266</ref> In 1126, Louis insisted on filling episcopal vacancies in the See of [[Tours]] with his own candidates over Hildebert's objections.<ref>Mann, pg. 267</ref> Hildebert also complained to Honorius about the constant appeals to Rome whenever he made a ruling.<ref>Mann, pg. 269</ref>

In response to the king's actions, the French bishops laid an [[Interdict (Catholic canon law)|interdict]] on the [[diocese of Paris]], causing Louis to write to Honorius, who suspended the interdict in 1129.<ref name="Mann, pg. 263">Mann, pg. 263</ref> Although this incurred the wrath of Bernard of Clairvaux, who wrote to Honorius expressing his disgust,<ref name="Mann, pg. 263" /> Honorius pressured Stephen of Senlis to become reconciled with King Louis in 1130.<ref name="Mann, pg. 264" /> Henri Sanglier, on the other hand, continued in his role of [[archbishop]] without further interference from the king.<ref name="Mann, pg. 265" /> By the end of his pontificate, Honorius had ended the conflict between Louis and his bishops.<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" />

In 1127, Honorius confirmed the acts of the [[Synod]] of [[Nantes]], presided over by Archbishop Hildebert of Lavardin, which eradicated certain local abuses in [[Brittany]].<ref>Mann, pg. 268</ref> That same year, Honorius helped [[Conan III, Duke of Brittany]], bring one of his rebellious vassals to heel.<ref>Mann, pgs. 268–269</ref> He also intervened on behalf of the monks of the [[Lérins Islands]] who were constantly harassed by Arab pirates, encouraging a crusade to help defend the monks.<ref>Mann, pg. 271</ref>

Honorius was also called to intervene in the affairs of [[Normandy]], as [[Fulk, King of Jerusalem|Fulk of Anjou]] and King [[Henry I of England]] battled for domination. Henry objected to the marriage of Fulk's daughter [[Sibylla of Anjou]] to [[William Clito]], the son of the [[duke of Normandy]], on the grounds that they were too closely related by blood, being sixth cousins.<ref>Mann, pg. 272</ref> They refused to divorce, and Honorius was forced to excommunicate Fulk and his son-in-law and to impose an interdict upon their territories.<ref>Mann, pg. 274</ref>

===Relations with England and Spain===
In England, the ongoing dispute between the Sees of [[Archbishop of Canterbury|Canterbury]] and [[Archbishop of York|York]] over primacy continued unabated. On 5 April 1125, Honorius wrote to [[Thurstan]], Archbishop of York, advising him that Honorius planned to settle the issue personally.<ref name="Mann, pg. 285">Mann, pg. 285</ref> He sent a legate, [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinal]] [[John of Crema]], to deal with the question of primacy, as well as other jurisdictional issues between Canterbury and [[Wales]], and between York, [[Scotland]] and [[Norway]].<ref name="Mann, pg. 285" /> Honorius wrote to the clergy and nobles of England, directing them to treat his legate as if he were Honorius himself.<ref name="Mann, pg. 285" />

In Honorius's name, John of Crema convened the Synod of [[Roxburgh]] in 1125. In a letter written to King [[David I of Scotland]], the king was asked to send the bishops of Scotland to the council, which discussed the claims of the Archbishop of York to have jurisdiction over the church in Scotland.<ref>Mann, pg. 286</ref> Upholding the claims of York, Honorius was unsuccessful in forcing the Scottish bishops to obey Archbishop Thurstan.<ref name="Mann, pg. 287">Mann, pg. 287</ref>

Next, John convened the Synod of [[Westminster]] in September 1125, which was attended by both the archbishops of Canterbury and York, together with twenty bishops and forty abbots.<ref>Mann, pg. 290</ref> Although the synod issued rulings on the forbidding of simony and of holding multiple sees at the same time, it did not touch on the vexed question of primacy between Canterbury and York.<ref>Mann, pgs. 290–291</ref> Instead, John summoned the two [[prelates]] to travel with him to Rome to discuss the matter in person before Honorius.<ref name="Mann, pg. 291">Mann, pg. 291</ref> They arrived in late 1125 and were greeted warmly by Honorius, and they remained in Rome until early 1126. While there, Honorius ruled that the [[Bishop of St Andrews]] was to be subject to the Archbishop of York<ref name="Mann, pg. 287" /> and in the more contentious issue, he attempted to circumvent his way around the problem by declaring that Thurstan was subject to [[William de Corbeil]], not in his role as Archbishop of Canterbury, but as papal legate for England and Scotland.<ref name="Mann, pg. 292">Mann, pg. 292</ref> To emphasise this, Honorius decreed that the Archbishop of Canterbury could not ask for any oath of obedience from the Archbishop of York, and in the matter of honorary distinction, it was the Archbishop of Canterbury in his role as Legate that was the most elevated ecclesiastic in the kingdom.<ref name="Mann, pg. 292" />

[[Urban (bishop of Llandaff)|Urban of Llandaff]] also travelled to Rome on numerous occasions to meet with Honorius throughout 1128 and 1129, to plead his case that his diocese should not be subject to the see of [[Canterbury]]. Although he obtained numerous privileges for his see and Honorius always spoke encouragingly to him, Honorius avoided having to make a decision that might alienate the powerful archbishops of Canterbury.<ref>Mann, pg. 289</ref>

In [[Spain]], Honorius was deeply suspicious of the ambitions of [[Diego Gelmírez]], the Archbishop of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela|Compostela]].<ref name="Mann, pg. 293">Mann, pg. 293</ref> Although Pope Callixtus II had made him Papal Legate of a number of Spanish provinces, Honorius informed Diego that he had been made aware of Diego's ambitions and subtly advised him to keep his ambition in check.<ref name="Mann, pg. 293" /> Still hoping to be promoted to the office of Legate of Spain, Diego sent envoys to Rome, carrying with them 300 gold [[Almoravid dynasty|Almoravid]] coins, two hundred and twenty for Honorius and another eighty for the [[Curia]].<ref name="Mann, pg. 293" /> Honorius repeated that his hands were tied, as he had just appointed a cardinal for that post.<ref name="Mann, pg. 294">Mann, pg. 294</ref>

Nevertheless, Honorius was not prepared to completely alienate Diego, and when the [[Archbishop of Braga]] nominated a successor to the vacant See of [[Coimbra]], Honorius reprimanded the archbishop for usurping the rights of Diego, who should have been the one to nominate a successor.<ref name="Mann, pg. 294" /> Honorius also demanded that the Archbishop of Braga present himself before Honorius on the second Sunday after Easter in 1129 to answer for his actions.<ref name="Mann, pg. 294" /> Honorius also ensured that Diego should play a leading role in the Synod of Carrión (February 1130), having his legate approach Diego and ask for his assistance during the synod.<ref>Mann, pgs. 294–295</ref>

Honorius also wished to promote the ongoing struggle against the [[Moors]] in Spain, and to that end he bestowed the city of [[Tarragona]], which had been recently captured from the Moors, to [[Robert d'Aguiló]].<ref>Elizabeth Van Houts, ''The Normans in Europe'', (Manchester University Press, 2000), 271.</ref><ref name="Mann, pg. 296">Mann, pg. 296</ref> Robert travelled to Rome to receive the gift from Honorius in 1128.<ref name="Mann, pg. 296" />

===Establishment of the Templars and affairs in the East===
[[File:Institution de l Ordre du Temple 1128 par Granet.jpg|thumb|19th century depiction of Pope Honorius II granting official recognition to the [[Knights Templar]]]]
In 1119, a new religious order had been established by some French noblemen. Called the [[Knights Templar]], they were to protect Christian pilgrims entering the [[Holy Land]] and to defend the conquests of the [[Crusades]]. However, by the pontificate of Honorius II, they had not yet received any official sanction from the papacy.<ref>Mann, pg. 297</ref> To rectify this situation, some members of the order appeared before the [[Council of Troyes in 1129]], where the Council expressed its approval of the order and commissioned [[Bernard of Clairvaux]] to draw up the order's rules, which now included vows of [[poverty, chastity and obedience]].<ref>Mann, pg. 298</ref> The order and the rules were subsequently approved by Honorius.<ref>Mann, pg. 299</ref>

Honorius, as suzerain of the [[Kingdom of Jerusalem]], re-confirmed the election of King [[Baldwin II of Jerusalem]] and established him as the royal patron of the Templars.<ref name="Mann, pg. 300">Mann, pg. 300</ref> Honorius tried to manage as best he could the rivalries of the different princes and high-ranking ecclesiastics that were destabilising the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem.<ref name="Mann, pg. 300" /> Long-standing arguments over areas of jurisdiction between the Latin Patriarchs of [[Latin Patriarch of Antioch|Antioch]] and [[Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem|Jerusalem]] were a constant source of irritation to Honorius.<ref name="Mann, pg. 300" /> Honorius supported the claims of [[William of Malines]], the new [[Archbishop of Tyre]] who claimed jurisdiction over some of the sees that had traditionally belonged to [[Bernard of Valence]], the Patriarch of Antioch.<ref name="Mann, pg. 301">Mann, pg. 301</ref> Bernard refused to give up his claims to the sees, and William travelled to Rome and presented his case before Honorius. The pope sent a legate back to Palestine with instructions that Bernard was to acquiesce and that the various bishops were to submit to William of Malines within forty days.<ref name="Mann, pg. 302">Mann, pg. 302</ref> Bernard managed to resist implementing Honorius's instructions, and soon Honorius was too ill to do anything about it.<ref name="Mann, pg. 302" />

===Death of Honorius II===
After almost a year of suffering a painful illness,<ref name="Mann, pg. 303">Mann, pg. 303</ref> Honorius fell seriously ill in early 1130.<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" /> Cardinal Aymeric and the Frangipani family began planning their next moves, and Honorius was taken to the [[San Gregorio Magno al Celio]] monastery, which was located in the territory controlled by the Frangipani.<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" /> Supporters of the Pierleoni family, already preparing to back [[Antipope Anacletus II|Pietro Pierleoni]]<ref>Levillain, pg. 733</ref> on a rumor that Honorius had died, stormed the monastery of the dying Honorius, hoping to force the election of Pietro.<ref name="Mann, pg. 304">Mann, pg. 304</ref> Only the sight of the still living Honorius in full pontifical robes forced them to disperse.<ref name="Mann, pg. 304" />

Nevertheless, Cardinal Aymeric's plans had not yet reached fruition when Honorius died on the evening of 13 February 1130.<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" /> The cardinals supporting the Frangipani immediately closed the monastery gates and refused to allow anyone inside.<ref name="Mann, pg. 304" /> The next day, and contrary to the usual customs, Honorius was quickly buried without any pomp or ceremony in the monastery, as the hand-picked cardinals got around to electing Gregorio Papareschi, who took the name [[Pope Innocent II]].<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" /> At the same time, the excluded cardinals, most of whom were supporters of the Pierleoni family, elected Pietro Pierleoni, who took the name [[Antipope Anacletus II|Anacletus II]], throwing the church once again into [[Papal schism of 1130|schism]].<ref>Levillain, pgs. 732–733</ref> Honorius eventually transferred from the monastery to the Lateran for reburial once Innocent II had been elected.<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" /> He was buried in the south transept next to the body of Callixtus II.<ref name="Mann, pg. 304" />

==Legacy==
The way in which Honorius was elected meant that he became a creature, not only of Cardinal Aymeric,<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" /> but also of the Frangipani family.<ref name="Mann, pg. 236">Mann, pg. 236</ref> Aymeric expanded his powerbase further, with Honorius elevating mostly non-Roman candidates to the college of cardinals,<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" /> while [[papal legates]] were now chosen solely within the papal circle.<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" /> Honorius favoured the newer monastic orders, such as the [[Augustinians]], a departure from the policies of the older Gregorian popes who favoured traditional orders such as the [[Benedictines]].<ref name="Levillain, pg. 732" />

At the same time, he found himself drawn into the continued chaos of local Roman politics,<ref name="Mann, pg. 236" /> as the Frangipani enjoyed their influence at the papal court, while the Pierleoni family continually fought against them and against Honorius. Their ceaseless infighting, repressed during the pontificate of Calixtus II, broke out again, and Honorius found he did not have the resources to suppress the Pierleoni, nor the authority to rein in the Frangipani. Honorius was required to engage in a number of petty wars in Rome, which wasted his time and were in the long haul unsuccessful in restoring order in the streets.<ref name="Mann, pg. 236" /> The continued chaos would be instrumental in the events that saw the resurrection of Republican sentiment in the city and the eventual establishment of the [[Commune of Rome]] in the following decade.

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Christianity|History}}
*[[List of popes]]
*[[Cardinals created by Honorius II]]

==Sources==
* Bergamo, Mario da (1968) OFM Cist. [Luigi Pellegrini], "La duplice elezione papale del 1130: I precedenti immediati e i protagonisti," ''Contributi dell' Istituto di Storia Medioevale, Raccolta di studi in memoria di Giovanni Soranzo'' II (Milan), 265–302.
* Catholic Encyclopedia: Honorius II<ref name=cathen>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07456a.htm ''Catholic Encyclopedia'':] Honorius II</ref>
* {{cite book | last = Duffy | first = Eamon | title = Saints and Sinners: A History of the Popes | publisher = Yale University Press | year = 2001 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/saintssinnershis00duff_0/page/140 140–141] | isbn = 978-0-300-09165-6 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/saintssinnershis00duff_0/page/140 }}
* Gregorovius, Ferdinand (1896) ''History of Rome in the Middle Ages'', Volume IV. 2 second edition, revised (London: George Bell).
* Hüls, Rudolf (1977) ''Kardinäle, Klerus und Kirchen Roms: 1049–1130 ''(Tübingen) [Bibliothek des Deutschen Historischen Instituts in Rom, Band 48].
* Levillain, Philippe (2002) ''The Papacy: An Encyclopedia, Vol II: Gaius-Proxies'', Routledge
* {{cite book |last=Mann |first=Horace K. |year=1925 |title=The Lives of the Popes in the Middle Ages: 1099-1130 |publisher=Kegan Paul |volume=8 }}
* Pandulphus Pisanus (1723) "Vita Calisti Papae II," "Vita Honorii II," Ludovico Antonio Muratori (editor), ''Rerum Italicarum Scriptores'' III. 1 (Milan), pp.&nbsp;418–419; 421–422.
* Stroll, Mary (1987) ''The Jewish Pope'' (New York: Brill 1987).
* Stroll, Mary (2005) ''Calixtus II'' (New York: Brill 2005).
* Thomas, P. C. (2007) ''A Compact History of the Popes'', St Pauls BYB

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{s-start}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[Callixtus II]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Pope]]|years=1124–30}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Innocent II]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Popes}}
{{Catholicism}}
{{History of the Roman Catholic Church}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Honorius 02}}
[[Category:1060 births]]
[[Category:1130 deaths]]
[[Category:People from the Metropolitan City of Bologna]]
[[Category:Popes]]
[[Category:Italian popes]]
[[Category:Cardinal-bishops of Ostia]]
[[Category:12th-century Italian Roman Catholic bishops]]
[[Category:12th-century popes]]
[[Category:Cardinals created by Pope Urban II]]
[[Category:Burials at the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran]]