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Octavius - Anti-Pope

1910 New Catholic Dictionary

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Octavius, Pope

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Antipope, 1159-1164. Died Lucca, Italy. While papal legate to Germany he gained the reputation of being rapacious and overly ambitious. Upon the death of Pope Adrian IV he sought in vain to have himself elected, and at the imposition of Pope Alexander III he seized the papal mantle and rushed out to his followers claiming to be the new pope. The Frangipani and the friends of Frederick Barbarossa secured Rome for him but popular discontent forced him to flee. Barbarossa, dreading excommunication by the lawful pope, summoned a Council at Pavia, 1160, to settle the two claims but in reality to install Octavius. The legates refused to support the antipope, who died soon after.