Pope Alexander III’s Exile in France and …
Years: 1165 - 1165
Pope Alexander III’s Exile in France and His Role in the Becket Dispute (1163–1165 CE)
Pope Alexander III, despite securing the support of Henry II of England and Louis VII of France, was forced to flee Rome in 1162 due to the political pressures of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, who had backed the antipope Victor IV.
Taking refuge in France, Alexander III settled his papal court at Sens from 1163 to 1165, where he continued to act as the legitimate pontiff while maneuvering against imperial-backed rivals.
Alexander III in Exile at Sens (1163–1165)
- Sens, a major ecclesiastical center, provided a secure base for the Pope, as it was under the protection of King Louis VII of France.
- From here, Alexander continued to govern the Church, issuing decrees and reinforcing anti-imperial alliances.
- His presence in northern France further strengthened Capetian ties with the papacy, while also positioning him to intervene in English affairs.
The Becket Dispute: Alexander as Mediator
While in exile, English nobles and churchmen appealed to Alexander III to mediate the conflict between:
- Henry II of England, who sought greater control over the English Church, particularly through the Constitutions of Clarendon (1164).
- Thomas à Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, who had opposed these royal policies and was exiled to France in 1164.
As Pope, Alexander was:
- Sympathetic to Becket, who defended ecclesiastical privileges against royal interference.
- Careful not to alienate Henry II, whose support he still needed against Frederick Barbarossa.
While in Sens, Alexander granted Becket asylum and protection, but sought a diplomatic resolution rather than outright confrontation with the English king.
Outcome and Legacy
- By 1165, Alexander III was able to return to Rome, although his struggles with Frederick Barbarossa and the imperial antipopes continued.
- His role in the Becket affair deepened papal involvement in English politics, foreshadowing later conflicts between the English crown and the Church.
- The papal court’s stay in Sens reinforced France’s long-standing relationship with the Papacy, strengthening Capetian influence in European religious affairs.
Though exiled from Rome, Alexander III’s papacy remained politically active, navigating the power struggles of Christendom while serving as a key mediator in one of the greatest church-state disputes of the Middle Ages.
Locations
People
Groups
- Papal States (Republic of St. Peter)
- France, (Capetian) Kingdom of
- Christians, Roman Catholic
- England, (Plantagenet, Angevin) Kingdom of
