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THIRD MILLENNIUM LIBRARY BIOHISTORY |
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POPE ADRIAN IV
BY
T. DUNCAN MACKIE
THE STATE OF ITALY AT THE TIME OF ADRIAN'S ACCESSION
I INTRODUCTION
In spite of much apparent evidence to the contrary, the Middle Ages
were, in truth, an era of hard practicality. For while all the greatest names
are those of idealists, of men with lofty ambitions, the conclusion which
inevitably presents itself to the mind of the student is that actual success
was attained to by those who were content to devote their whole energies to the
realization of smaller aims. Otto III was stupor
mundi. He could cross the Alps at the head of the German array, he could
overrun all Italy, and create reforming Pontiffs; but the kingdom of God upon
earth of which he dreamt was utterly impracticable, the strife between Pope and
Emperor could not be ended, and all that the great monarch did was to wreck his
power by subjecting 'a visionary empire to a practical Papacy. In short, he
was, despite his noble and generous ideals, merely a tool in the hands of the
high church party. Henry II, who became Emperor on the death of Otto in 1002,
however, is a typical example of the successful politician of the Middle Ages.
His aims were small, and he contented himself with a policy of quiet aggression
at home, whilst he deliberately gave up all attempt to wield any effective
power in Italy. But, by his inglorious successes, Henry II built up again that
central power which Otto III had dissipated in the pursuit of an empty dream.
And so it is throughout the whole range of the history of this period.
Denounced by one Pope as the most “simonaic,
adulterous, and sacrilegious of Kings”, excommunicated by another, it was none
the less Philip the Fat, the fainéant, who laid the foundations of French
greatness. Even in the Papacy, by far the most practical of mediaeval
institutions, the same phenomenon presents itself. The noblest figure of the
age is surely Hildebrand. He appealed to no “Donation”, but based his claims to
universal suzerainty upon the inherent supremacy of things Divine. Yet, because
he acted with a noble consistency, refusing all politic compromise, partly,
too, because he failed to realize that the establishment of his rule of
investitures would subvert the whole system of the imperial government, he died
an exile from the smoking ruins of his city. Lofty and noble though his motives
were, he sought an impossible ideal, which the grim practicality of the Middle
Ages failed even to comprehend.
Adrian IV is not one of the best-known Popes. The distinction usually
accorded him is that of being the only Englishman who ever wore the tiara. But
while it must be admitted that he was of less heroic stature than some of his
contemporaries, it cannot be denied that he was essentially a man of the hour.
If real greatness lies in being a true expression of an age, Adrian IV was
undoubtedly great. His policy was perhaps inconsistent, his treatment of Arnold
of Brescia appears to a modern mind cruel in the extreme, his attitude to
Barbarossa some would not hesitate to call treacherous, but, for all that,
England has good reason to be proud of the only son who has ever occupied the
chair of St. Peter. Opposed to a mighty Emperor, in some ways the strongest
since the time of Charlemagne, Adrian did not quail; girt about by enemies, he
rose to still loftier heights of resistance. While he could, he avoided direct
hostility, but when it was no longer possible to temporize, he prepared
manfully for the struggle, and only death prevented him from hurling against
his great antagonist the bolt of his anathema.
Though he had at least as high a conception of the papal dignity as any
of his predecessors, Adrian yet coupled with his lofty claims a great practical
wisdom, so that, as a politician, he was shrewd rather than ambitious.
High-sounding alliances were rejected in favor of treaties with smaller powers
who could give real assistance. The slayer of Arnold did not scruple to make
common cause with the republics of North Italy when occasion arose. Fearless he
was and large-hearted, too, but his success as Pope was due, in the first
place, to his English common sense.
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