Anaclet II

Anaclet II ( Pietro Pierleoni ), anti pope of 1130 with 1138.

With died of the Honorius pope the cardinals were divided into two factions which chose each one a pope. The first group, of French origin, came to create the Ordre of the Temple during the Concile of Troyes. He chose the Gregoire cardinal who became Innocent II. The second group, of Roman origin, élisit Pierre of Leon under the name of Anaclet II. Pierre of Leon would have been of origin judéenne, it was supported by the Jews of Rome.

The frank king Louis the Large did not accept this situation. He convened the bishops of his kingdom with Étampes in order to judge which of the two popes was the good on the canonical level. For that it made come Bernard de Clairvaux, then at the top of its glory, which precisely had just taken part in the council of Troyes whose participants had to write the rule about the Temple (Simonetta Cerrini, the revolution of Templiers, Edition Perrin 2007). It was him which decided thing in front of the French bishops. He judged that Innocent II was canonical and he did not hesitate to go then near the powerful lords of the time to put forward his candidate. He carried the adhesion of king d' Angleterre, but encountered difficulties with others, of which the duke of Aquitaine. Innocent II, recognized by the king of France, quickly made convene the bishops with Rheims for a council which began on October 13rd 1131. At the conclusion of the council of Rheims, Innocent II was solemnly approved whereas Anaclet was seen excommunicated…

He is elected pope by part of the cardinals and, supported by the Normands of Sicily, he is opposed to the pope Innocent II which is captured by the Norman king Roger II of Sicily. He is however excommunicated in 1134 by the council of Pisa. He dies in 1138.

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