Urban IV

Urban IV (died 1264), pope (1261-1264), who strengthened the political position of the medieval papacy. Born Jacques Pantaléon in Troyes, he was made archdeacon of Liège before 1245. He became archdeacon of Laon in 1249, bishop of Verdun in 1253, and patriarch of Jerusalem in 1255. Urban, one of the important medieval popes, bitterly opposed Manfred, king of Naples and Sicily, who prevented him from entering Rome and whose lands the pope eventually bestowed upon the count of Anjou, later Charles I, king of Naples and Sicily. Urban also aided King Henry III of England against his rebellious barons. Urban's Italian policy restored order in the Papal States, weakened German influence, and created alliances with rulers of important cities and states. He instituted the feast of Corpus Christi in 1264.