A papal election was held on 24 January 1118 to choose the successor for Paschal II, who died in Rome on 21 January after an 18-year pontificate. Gelasius II was elected as his successor. The election happened during the Investiture Controversy, a conflict between supporters of the papacy and those of the Holy Roman emperor. The election was held under the threat of possible violence due to the controversy. The cardinal electors took refuge in the Benedictine monastery, Santa Maria in Pallara, during the election. Within minutes of his election as pope, Gelasius II was attacked and imprisoned by the Frangipani faction, supporters of the emperor. Gelasius managed to escape, but at the emperor's arrival with his army, he fled Rome and never returned.
Cardinal-electors The papal bull entitled, In nomine Domini, issued by Nicholas II in 1059, declared that, to choose the successor upon the death of the incumbent pope, the cardinal-bishops would discuss and present the name of a suitable candidate, and the cardinals would subsequently ratify the nomination.Nicholas Weber (1911). "Pope Nicholas II." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 11. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. Retrieved: 5 Aug. 2021.
Information regarding the cardinals during the election was compiled over 12 years later by Pandulf of Pisa, cardinal-priest of Santi Cosma e Damiano. The account is not complete.Watterich II, pp. 94-95. Indeed, some historians have pointed out the inaccuracy of Pandulf's account, including his list of electors, given his support for Anacletus II (1130–1138), who made him a cardinal.Robinson, p 63, and Furst, p 69. It is equally likely that the discrepancies originated from the violence that characterised three conclaves, 1118, 1124, and 1130, the Frangipani and their thugs being responsible. About 1118, he states, "we were forced to flee" (fugere poteramus... "fugimus et omnes cum eo"... "ut furgeremus per mare"...). Watterich II, p. 97.Klewitz, pp. 100–101, 119–134; Furst, pp. 69–80; Hüls, pp. 63–64.
Pandulf states that the election was attended by 49 cardinals: four bishops, 27 priests, and 18 deacons. Still, the account mentions the names of only 35 cardinals (four bishops, 20 priests, and 11 deacons), including the elected Gelasius. However, the status of the cardinals, priests, and deacons was unclear from the Pandulf account. In addition, several cardinals mentioned by Pandulf only obtained that position when elevated after the papal election by a later pope. Other chroniclers also made incomplete accounts.
According to the work of Rudolf Huls, the College of Cardinals had only 41 members as of January 1118: 6 bishops, 20 priests, and 15 deacons, of which the following 36 participated in the election:
Cardinal Bishops
Crescenzio (nominated cardinal in 1100Appointment dates are approximate. Huls, pp. 84–86) - Cardinal-bishop of Sabina Pietro Senex (1102) - Cardinal-bishop of Porto Lamberto Scannabecchi - Cardinal-bishop of OstiaHüls, p. 84, indicates that Lamberto subscribes after Pietro Senex, and Kuno, and before Vitalis. Vitalis (1111) - Cardinal-bishop of Albano
Cardinal Priests
Boniface (1100) - Cardinal-Priest of S. Marco; prior cardinalium Benedict (1102) - Cardinal-Priest of S. Pietro in Vincoli Anastasius (1102) - Cardinal-Priest of S. Clemente Divizo (1103) - Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Silvestro e MartinoHüls, p. 142, 192-193. Alphonso Chacón and Olduin name Cardinal Divizo as a Cardinal-bishop: Chacon and Olduin, Vitae et res gestae pontificum Romanorum I (Rome 1677), p. 929. At the time of the election, he was still a cardinal-priest of Ss. Martino e Silvestro. Joannes (1106) - Cardinal-Priest of S. Cecilia Theobaldus (1111) - Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Giovanni e Paolo Rainerius (1111) - Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Marcellino e Pietro Corrado della Suburra (1114) - Cardinal-Priest of S. Pudenziana Gregory (1115) - Cardinal-Priest of S. Prisca Desiderius (c. 1115) - Cardinal-Priest of S. PrassedeHǔls, pp. 197-198. Deusdedit (1116) - Cardinal-Priest of S. Lorenzo in DamasoHüls, p. 197. Gregorius (1116) - Cardinal-Priest of San Lorenzo in Lucina Giovanni, O.S.B. Cas. (1116) - Cardinal-Priest of S. Eusebio Guido, O.S.B. (1116) - Cardinal-Priest of S. Balbina Giovanni da Crema (1116) - Cardinal-Priest of S. CrisogonoHüls, p. 176-178. Saxo de Anagnia (1116) - Cardinal-Priest of S. Stefano al Monte Celio Petrus Pisanus (1113) - Cardinal-Priest of S. Susanna Amico, O.S.B. Cas. (1117) - Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Nereo ed Achilleo; Abbot of S. Vincenzo al VolturnoHüls, p. 193.
Cardinal Deacons
Giovanni Gaetani, O.S.B. Cas. (1088) - Cardinal-Deacon of S. Maria in Cosmedin; Cardinal-protodeacon. Gregorio, OSB (c. 1108) - Cardinal-Deacon of S. EustachioHüls, p. 227. Romoaldo (1109) - Cardinal-Deacon of S. Maria in Via LataHüls, p. 238. Gregorio Gaetano (1109) - Cardinal-Deacon of S. Lucia in Septisolio Aldo da Ferentino (1109) - Cardinal-Deacon of Ss. Sergio e BaccoHǔls, p. 241. Teobaldo Boccapecora (1109) - Cardinal-Deacon of S. Maria Nuova Roscemanno, O.S.B.Cas. (1112) - Cardinal-Deacon of S. Giorgio in VelabroHǔls, pp. 227-228. Pietro Pierleoni, OSBCluny (1113) - Cardinal-Deacon of Ss. Cosma e Damiano Oderisio di Sangro, O.S.B.Cas. (1112) - Cardinal-Deacon of S. Agata Comes (1113) - Cardinal-Deacon of S. Maria in AquiroHǔls, p. 231. Gregorio Papareschi (1116) - Cardinal-Deacon of S. Angelo in Pescheria Crisogono (1117) - Cardinal-Deacon of S. Nicola in Carcere Enrico da Mazara (1117) - Cardinal-Deacon of S. Teodoro; Dean of the collegiate church of Mazara del Vallo, SicilyHüls, p. 242. Crescenzio di Anagni (1117) - Cardinal-Deacon
Two subdeacons were in attendance, Nicholas, Provost of the Choir School, and Amico O.S.B. (Cluny), Abbot of Saint Lawrence outside the Walls.
Absent It can be established that at least two cardinal-priests, two cardinal-bishops, and a cardinal-deacon were absent:
Giovanni Marsicano, O.S.B. (1100) - Cardinal-bishop of TusculumKlewitz, p. 100. K. Ganzer, "Das römische Kardinalkollegium," in: Le istituzioni ecclesiastiche della "Societas christiana" dei secoli XI-XII, I, Papato, cardinalato ed episcopato, (Milano 1974), pp. 153–181. Stephan Freund, "Giovanni di Tuscolo", Dizionario biografico degli Italiani 56 (2001). Retrieved: 5 August 2021. Kuno von Urach (1107) - Cardinal-bishop of Palestrina; papal legate in FranceHüls, pp. 113-116. Boso (1109) - Cardinal-priest of S. Anastasia; papal legate in SpainHüls, pp. 147-149. Zelina Zafarana, "Bosone," Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani 13 (1971). Ugone d'Alatri (1116) - Cardinal-priest of Santi Dodici Apostoli; Governor Monte CirceoHüls, pp. 81-83. 85, 141, 151. Giovanni, O.S.B. (1073) - Cardinal-deacon of Santa Maria in Domnica; Abbot of SubiacoHüls, p 233.
The choice of Gelasius II
During his papacy, Paschal II waged the investiture controversy with Emperor Henry V, who had a considerable following among the aristocracy of Rome. From 6 to 11 March 1116, Paschal II presided over a general council at the Lateran Basilica,C. J. Hefele, Histoire des conciles (History of the Councils) Volume VII (Paris: Adrien le Clere 1871), pp. 138-141. The leader of the anti-imperial opposition to Paschal's concessions to Henry was Cardinal Giovanni of Gaeta, the chancellor of the Holy Roman Church. In the council, Pope Paschal was forced to condemn his own privilegium. This was a concession that Paschal had granted to the emperor, allowing the emperor to invest bishops with his staff and ring of office. Paschal agreed to again anathematize any person who gave or received ecclesiastical titles from the hands of a layman, though he resisted the council's wish to anathematize the emperor.Jaffé, pp. 761-762. Watterich II, pp. 83-85. Gregorovius IV, pp. 365-366. This action in the council by Paschal was a repudiation of the agreement he had previously reached with the emperor. It caused great offense and anger. After many representations to the pope, Henry marched on Rome.Watterich II, p. 87. Gregorovius IV, p. 371. On 5 April 1117, supporters of the emperor forced Paschal to flee the Lateran palace. He spent his time at Montecassino, and then Benevento. There he held a synod, where he excommunicated the emperor's friend, Maurice Burdinus, the archbishop of Braga, who had been the go-between in recent negotiations. He returned to Rome to the Castel Sant'Angelo on 14 January 1118, where he died on 21 January.Jaffé, p. 772. Gregorovius IV, pp. 375-376.
After his death, the Cardinals took refuge in the Palladium (S. Maria in Pallara),P. Fedele, "Una chiesa del Palatino: S. Maria 'in Pallara'," Archivio della Società romana di storia patria 26 (1903), 343-380. Gregorovius History of Rome in the Middle Ages IV. 1, p. 97 n. S. Maria in Pallara belonged to the Benedictine Congregation of Montecassino, and was the residence of Cardinal Giovanni of Gaeta (Joannes Gaetanus), the papal chancellor (in the perpetual absence of Archbishop Frederick of Cologne. a Benedictine monastery on the Palatine Hill, fearing the violence of supporters of the emperor. The meetings were presided over by Cardinal Petrus of Porto. He waited the three canonical days before beginning the election, having also sent a swift messenger summoning Cardinal Giovanni Gaetani, who was at Montecassino. On 24 January 1118, three days after the customary prayers and devotions, the electors unanimously chose Cardinal Giovanni Coniulo from Gaeta for the papacy, the cardinal-deacon of Santa Maria in Cosmedin and Chancellor of the Holy See. On election, he adopted the papal name Gelasius II.
Aftermath Shortly after his election, as the clergy and people were celebrating Gelasius' enthronement, Cenzio Frangipani, a supporter of the emperor, whose house and headquarters were next door to S. Maria in Pallara, broke into the church with his followers and assaulted the pope. The pope was seized and carried off to Frangipani's house, where he was chained and imprisoned.Pandulphus Pisanus, "Life of Gelasius II," in: Watterich II, p. 96: "Papam per gulam accepit, distraxit, pugnibus calcibusque percussit, et tamquam brutum animal intra limen ecclesiae acriter calcaribus cruentavit et latro tantum dominum per capillos et brachia... detraxit, ad domum usque deduxit, inibi catenavit et clausit." Gregorovius IV, pp. 379-380.
Pope Gelasius II was freed by a popular uprising led by Peter, the Prefect of Rome.Gregorovius IV, p. 380. The Prefect was accompanied by Petrus Leoni (the father of Cardinal Petrus Petrileonis), Stephanus Normanni, Stephanus de Petro, Stephanus de Theobaldo, Stephanus de Berizone, Stephanus Quatrale, Bucca Pecorini, Bonesci, Berisasi, and their retinues, who had assembled on the Capitol before attacking the Frangipani stronghold. However, as the emperor Henry and his army approached the city, Gelasius fled from Rome to his native Gaeta on March 1,"Annales Romani," in: Monumenta Germaniae Historica Scriptorum 5, p. 478: "mansit in patriarchio Lateranensi usque in diem Veneris ante quadragesimam." where he was ordained as a priest on 9 March 1118.March 9: "Annales Romani", p. 478: "presbyter ordinatur die sabbati quatuor temporum Martii." He was consecrated a bishop and enthroned on 10 March. Pandulphus Pisanus was ordained a lector and an exorcist on the same day.Pandulphus Pisanus, "Vita Gelasii II", in Watterich II, p. 99; He then fled to Pisa and ultimately to France, where he remained until his death at the Abbey of Cluny on 29 January 1119.Jaffé, p. 780. In his absence, the papal vicar in Rome was Cardinal Petrus, the Bishop of Porto.Falco of Benevento, in: Ludovico Antonio Muratori, Rerum Italicarum Scriptores Tomus V, p. 93.
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