Pope Alexander III (170º): Biography, Pontificate & Legacy

Who Was Pope Alexander III?

Pope Alexander III — 170º in the Catholic list — reigned 7 September 1159–30 August 1181 during the high Middle Ages. Subject of the March of Tuscany. This Guide Catholic profile gathers background, major acts, and legacy so you can read Alexander III beside neighboring pontiffs.

Early Life & Background

Before election he was known as Rolando Bandinelli. Born circa 1100 Siena, March of Tuscany, he entered a world shaped by politics and piety very different from today's global Church.

Historical Context

Alexander III (#undefined) led during crusades, monastic reform, and cathedral culture — and during sharp contests between popes and emperors over authority in Christendom. Convened the Third Council of the Lateran(1179).

Pontificate & Key Events

The pontificate (7 September 1159–30 August 1181) centered on governance during the high Middle Ages.

Papal Acts & Achievements

Acts associated with Alexander III (#170, 7 September 1159–30 August 1181) still draw historians and Catholics who want more than a one-line summary. His reign remains a link in the succession now counted at 267 popes.

Key Highlights

• 170th pope of the Catholic Church
• Pontificate: 7 September 1159–30 August 1181
• Convened the Third Council of the Lateran(1179).
• Shepherded the Church during the high Middle Ages
• Successor of St. Peter in the official Catholic list

Legacy in the Catholic Church

Alexander III remains pope 170º in the Annuario Pontificio. Set against the high Middle Ages, Alexander III's choices show both the limits of any one pontiff and the continuity of the office he held.

Why Catholics Study This Pope Today

If you only remember one modern question about Alexander III, ask how his decisions served unity and truth under the pressures of the high Middle Ages. Start with the concrete record: Convened the Third Council of the Lateran(1179). Where bulls, conciliar acts, or encyclicals survive from this reign, they repay readers who want primary sources rather than summaries alone. Then step back to the full list of 267 popes to see where Alexander III sits between crisis and consolidation.

Place in the Line of Succession

Alexander III followed Pope Adrian IV (169º, 4 December 1154–1 September 1159) after a transition shaped by the politics and piety of their shared century. He was followed by Pope Lucius III (171º, 1 September 1181–25 November 1185), whose biography continues the chain on Guide Catholic. For the full chronological map, see our complete list of all 267 popes — then read neighboring biographies for contrast, not only continuity.