Written by Guide Catholic
Pope Anastasius III (120º): Biography, Pontificate & Legacy
Pontificate: 14 April 911 –June 913 · Origin: Rome, Estados Papais · Birth name: Anastasius Tertius
Anastasius III was the 120th pope of the Catholic Church, reigning 14 April 911 –June 913 during the early medieval papacy. Subject and later the sovereign of the Papal States.
Who Was Pope Anastasius III?
Among the 267 popes, Anastasius III is number 120, remembered for the years 14 April 911 –June 913 in the early medieval papacy. Subject and later the sovereign of the Papal States. Use the sections below to move from a one-line summary of Anastasius III to a usable historical and spiritual picture.
Early Life & Background
Before election he was known as Anastasius. Born circa 865 Rome, Papal States, he entered a world shaped by politics and piety very different from today's global Church.
Historical Context
Anastasius III (#undefined) reigned while Western Roman order fractured, new kingdoms rose, and missionaries carried Christianity across Europe under papal encouragement or correction.
Pontificate & Key Events
The pontificate (14 April 911 –June 913) centered on governance during the early medieval papacy.
Papal Acts & Achievements
Acts associated with Anastasius III (#120, 14 April 911 –June 913) 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
- 120th pope of the Catholic Church
- Pontificate: 14 April 911 –June 913
- Shepherded the Church during the early medieval papacy
- Successor of St. Peter in the official Catholic list
Legacy in the Catholic Church
Anastasius III remains pope 120º in the Annuario Pontificio. Set against the early medieval papacy, Anastasius 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
Place Anastasius III on your mental map: 120º successor of Peter, reigning 14 April 911 –June 913, formed by the early medieval papacy. Begin with this documented note: Subject and later the sovereign of the Papal States. Then step back to the full list of 267 popes to see where Anastasius III sits between crisis and consolidation.
Place in the Line of Succession
Anastasius III followed Pope Sergius III (119º, 29 January 904 –14 April 911) after a transition shaped by the politics and piety of their shared century. He was followed by Pope Lando (121º, 7 July 913 –5 February 914), 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.