Desiderius, the great abbot of Monte Cassino, had in 1074 and 1075 acted as intermediary, probably as Gregory's agent, between the Norman princes, and even when the latter were at open war with the pope, they still maintained the best relations with Monte Cassino.
At the end of 1080, Desiderius had obtained Norman troops for Gregory.
In 1082, he had visited the Italian king and future Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV at Albano, while the troops of the Imperialist antipope were harassing the pope from Tivoli.
In 1083, the peace-loving abbot had joined Hugh of Cluny in an attempt to reconcile pope and emperor, and his proceedings seem to have aroused some suspicion in Gregory's entourage.
In 1084, when Rome was in Henry's hands and the pope besieged in Castel Sant'Angelo, Desiderius had announced the approach of Guiscard's army to both emperor and pope.
Though certainly a strong partisan of the Hildebrandine reforms, Desiderius belongs to the moderate party and cannot always see eye-to-eye with Pope Gregory VII in his most intransigent proceedings.
Yet when the latter lay dying at Salerno on May 25, 1085, the Abbot of Monte Cassino was one of those whom he had recommended to the cardinals of southern Italy as most fit to succeed him.
Under pressure from Prince Jordan I of Capua, to whom he has also rendered important service, Desiderius is elected Pope on May 24, 1086, taking the throne name of Victor III.
He is not at this time consecrated, owing to the presence of the Antipope Clement III in Rome.
