Pope Alexander IV

Reign: 1254 – 1261
Life: 1200–1261

In 1255, Alexander IV canonized Saint Clare of Assisi, founder of the religious order for women called the Poor Clares. Early career He was born as Rinaldo di Jenne in Jenne (now in the Province of Rome ). Alexander pontificate was signalled by efforts to reunite the Eastern Orthodox churches with the Catholic Church , by the establishment of the Inquisition in France, by favours shown to the mendicant orders , and by an attempt to organize a crusade against the Mongols after the second Mongol raid against Poland in 1259. Nor could he enlist the kings of England and Norway in a crusade against the Hohenstaufens.

During Pope Alexander IV's reign, James I of Aragon ruled Spain, Afonso III of Portugal ruled Portugal, and Prince Munetaka ruled Japan (Shogunate).

Want to learn more? Further reading

Absolute Monarchs: A History of the Papacy by John Julius Norwich

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