Early Life and Career
Born Anselmo da Baggio in Baggio, near Milan, in Lombardy, he was educated at the monastery of Bec in Normandy under Lanfranc, who would later become Archbishop of Canterbury. He became a prominent figure in the reform movement in Milan, advocating against simony (the buying or selling of ecclesiastical privileges) and clerical marriage. He was a close associate of Hildebrand (the future Pope Gregory VII), a leading figure of the reform party within the Roman Curia. In 1057, he was appointed Bishop of Lucca.Papal Election
Anselmo's election as Pope Alexander II in 1061 was a landmark event. He was the first pope to be elected in accordance with the Papal Election Decree of 1059, which stipulated that cardinal-bishops were to have the primary role in electing the pope, reducing the influence of the Roman nobility and the Holy Roman Emperor. The election took place without consulting the imperial court, which had historically claimed the right to confirm papal elections.This move angered the imperial regency, then under Empress Agnes of Poitou (mother of the young Emperor Henry IV), and a faction of Roman nobles. They subsequently elected an antipope, Cadalous of Parma, who took the name Honorius II. This schism lasted for several years, with Honorius II briefly occupying Rome, but Alexander II's legitimacy was eventually affirmed at the Council of Mantua in 1064, largely through the efforts of Peter Damian and the support of influential figures like Godfrey III, Duke of Lower Lorraine.
Pontificate
Pope Alexander II's papacy was characterized by a sustained effort to implement and expand the Gregorian Reform agenda:- Combating Simony and Clerical Marriage: He vigorously continued the fight against simony and nicolaitism (clerical marriage), sending legates throughout Europe to enforce papal decrees and depose clergy guilty of these practices.
- Support for Norman Conquest of England: In 1066, Alexander II gave his blessing and a papal banner to William the Conqueror for his invasion of England. This support was partly motivated by a desire to reform the English Church, which was perceived as having drifted from Roman practices and being rife with simony and clerical marriage under Archbishop Stigand of Canterbury. The Norman Conquest facilitated the introduction of a more centralized, reform-minded ecclesiastical structure in England.
- Relationship with the Holy Roman Empire: Despite the initial friction over his election, Alexander II sought to assert papal independence from imperial control. He continued to challenge imperial appointments of bishops and condemned members of Emperor Henry IV's court for simony.
- Promotion of Crusade and Reconquista: He encouraged the nascent idea of holy war, granting spiritual rewards to Christian fighters. He supported the Reconquista in Spain, offering a papal banner and indulgences to knights fighting against the Moors. He also encouraged Italian Normans to fight against Muslims in Sicily.
- Canonizations: He canonized several saints, including Romuald, founder of the Camaldolese order.
- Ecumenical Efforts: He also made efforts to reach out to the Eastern Churches, though without significant breakthroughs in healing the East-West Schism.