1191 papal election

Papal election
1191
Dates and location
21 March 1191
Rome
Key officials
DeanConrad of Wittelsbach
CamerlengoCencio Savelli
ProtodeaconGiacinto Bobone
Elected pope
Giacinto Bobone
Name taken: Celestine III
1198 →

The 1191 papal election took place after the death of Pope Clement III. Pope Clement, according to differing and irreconcilable reports, died in March 1191, in the last third of the month, on the 20th, the 25th, the 26th, the 28th, or perhaps 2 April or 4 April, or 10 April.[1] The election was conducted during the march of King Henry VI and his army toward Rome. The 85-year-old Cardinal Giacinto Bobone, a member of the Orsini family, was chosen after some extreme reluctance. He took the name Celestine III. Pressed by the Romans, however, he agreed to negotiate with King Henry about his coronation as emperor and about the possession of the city of Tusculum. Celestine postponed his own consecration in order to buy time to negotiate. He was finally crowned on Easter Sunday, 14 April 1191.

  1. ^ Jaffé, p. 576. Capitani says cautiously, "tra il 20 marzo e il 10 aprile del 1191".