Pope Paschal II

Some would say the portents were there, but others just chalk it up to coincidence.

But as 1117 gave way to 1118 in early January, news arrived that Pope Pascal II died.

A few weeks later, news arrived that John of Gaeta, a monk from Monte Cassino and a chancellor to Pope Pascal, was unanimously elected as Pope Galatius II.

And with a new pope, Henry's most trying year yet as king arguably commenced.

On August 31st, 1099, in the church of San Clemente, the cardinals unanimously elected Cardinal Renarius as Urban's successor.

He was consecrated the next day at St. Peter's under the title of Paschal II.

Paschal was a native of the little town of Bieda in Tuscany, and had lived in Rome for more than thirty years.

Gregory VII had made him a cardinal, and in his principles he was heartily Gregorian.

Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV's beef with Pope Gregory VII and Countess Matilda of Canossa exploded far beyond what even Gregory assumed it would.

And Henry IV, by the turn of the century, was battling not only the shifting winds within the empire's clergy and nobility, but also Pope Pascal II and still his old nemesis, his cousin who he tortured as a young brat.

Yeah, the countess is still around.

Yes, still enjoying being the biggest thorn in the emperor's side.

which did happen, actually, in April of 1111.

But in typical imperial fashion, it didn't happen very peacefully.

See, by the time Henry V was crowned the new Holy Roman Emperor, he had imprisoned Pope Pascal II in Rome for 61 days.

The Pope finally relented and a new emperor was declared.

One of the interesting people who comes into possession of the castle is a guy named Pierleoni.

He was a, a Roman noble whose family was actually of Jewish origin, although he himself converted to Catholicism in the 11th century and was granted control of the castle by Pope Paschal II.

And then later in the 13th century, the Orsini family is going to take control of the Castel after obtaining it from a family member who happens to become pope, Pope Nicholas III.

And they control it until 1365, when control of the Castel is ceded back to the church.

So his birth is obviously also much celebrated.

Pope Pascal II wrote to congratulate Henry that you have had the male issue so much desired by your noble and religious consort.

Now, we don't have a huge amount of detail about William's upbringing.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Anselm at this time, was in exile because he had clashed with Henry over the investiture controversy.