Pope Alexander II (1010 - 1073). (Part Two).

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The Emperor instead named Anselm Bishop of Lucca in 1056.[11] The earliest testimony of his activity as Bishop is on 23 March 1057.[6] On 20 August 1057, he was with the Imperial Court at Trebur, and, on 27 December 1057, at Pöhlde.[12]

As Bishop, he was an energetic associate of Hildebrand of Sovana in endeavouring to suppress Simony and enforce Clerical Celibacy.[13] So bad was the state of things at Milan, that Benefices were openly bought and sold, and the Clergy publicly married the women with whom they lived.

With the increased prestige of his Office, he re-appeared twice in Milan as Legate of the Holy See, in 1057 in the company of Hildebrand, and in 1059 with Peter Damian.[9]

Bishop Anselm attended the Roman Council of Pope Nicholas II in April 1059, and another Synod of uncertain date.[14] He was in Rome again in April 1060, for a Synod in the Lateran Palace, when he subscribed to two Papal Bulls dated 14 April 1060.[15]

Pope Nicholas II died on 27 July 1061. The Cardinals met, and sent a representative, the former Monk of Cluny, Cardinal Stephen, to seek the permission of the Imperial Court to conduct an Election. After a five-day wait, during which he was not received in audience, the Cardinal returned to Italy, without having received the “Congé d’élire”.[16]

The Cardinal-Bishops then proceeded to an Election, having forced their way into the City of Rome with the aid of Prince Richard I of Capua and his Norman troops.

On 1 October 1061, they chose Bishop Anselmo de Baggio of Lucca, one of the leaders of the reform party, who took the name Pope Alexander II.[9]

Unlike previous Papal Elections, the assent of the Holy Roman Emperor to the Election was not sought.[17] Cardinal-Bishops were the sole Electors of the Pope for the first time in the history of The Church, in accordance with Pope Nicholas II’s Bull “In Nomine Domini”.[18]

The Bull effectively removed the control held by the Roman Metropolitan Church over the Election of the Pontiff, unilaterally abrogating the Rights of the Emperor, the Nobles of Rome, the Clergy, and the people of Rome.

PART THREE FOLLOWS.