Urban
the name of eight popes:
URBAN I., succeeded Calixtus I., in 222, and suffered martyrdom in 230.
URBAN II. (Odo of Lagny); born in Châtillon-sur-Marne, France, about 1042, succeeded Victor III. in 1088. He caused Guibert, who had been supported as antipope under the title of Clement III., to be driven out of Rome; preached the first crusade in 1095, and convoked the councils of Bari, Clermont, and Rome. He died in Rome, July 29, 1099.
URBAN III. (Herbert Crivelli), archbishop of Milan, was successor of Lucius III., and was elected to the papal chair in 1185. He endeavored to send assistance to the Christians in the East, who were being sorely pressed by Saladin, but died before he could effect his object. He died in France, Oct. 20, 1187.
URBAN IV., became Pope in succession to Alexander IV. in 1261. He excommunicated Manfred, King of Naples, and offered the crown to Charles, Count of Provence and Anjou, and brother to POPE URBAN V.
Louis IX. of France, which led to the subsequent wars of the Anjous for the possession of Sicily and Naples. He died in Orvieto, Italy, Oct. 2, 1265.
URBAN V. succeeded Innocent VI. in 1362. He restored the papal seat from URBAN TRANSPORTATION Avignon to Rome, founded many churches, and reformed numerous abuses.
He died in Avignon, France, Dec. 16, 1370.
URBAN VI. (Bartholomew Prignano), succeeded Gregory XI. in 1378. The cardinals afterward chose Robert of Geneva, who took the name of Clement VII ., and took up his residence in Avignon.
Thus was originated the famous "Western Schism," which endured for nearly 50 years. He died in Rome, Oct. 15, 1389.
URBAN VII. succeeded Sixtus V. in 1590, but died in less than a fortnight afterward, Sept. 28, 1590.
URBAN VIII. (Maffeo Barberini); born in 1568, ascended the pontifical throne in 1623. He condemned the Jansenists, revised the hymns of the Roman Catholic Church, and was the author of some Latin and Italian poems. He died in Rome, July 29, 1644.