| Pope from December 12, until his death Date of Birth: Country: Dive |
Born around in Genna, near Rome, Pope Alexander IV was the son of Filippo Conti di Genna. His mother was a member of the Conti di Segni family, which had produced several popes, including Pope Gregory IX. In , Alexander became a member of the cathedral chapter of Anagni. He later earned a doctorate from the University of Paris.
Alexander entered the priesthood as a subdeacon around He served as a chaplain to Pope Honorius III and later to his relative Cardinal Ugolino Conti di Segni, who became Pope Gregory IX. In , he was appointed Cardinal-Deacon of Sant'Eustachio. He also served as Camerlengo of the Roman Catholic Church from and as Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia from
After the death of Pope Innocent IV, Alexander was elected as his successor on December 12, He continued Innocent's policy of safeguarding the imperial dignity of Conradin, the last of the Hohenstaufen dynasty, and protecting him from Manfred of Sicily.
Alexander IV's papacy was marked by efforts to reunite the Eastern Orthodox Church with the Catholic Church. He also established the Inquisition in France and granted favors to the mendicant orders. He attempted to organize a crusade against the Mongols after their invasion of Poland in
In , Alexander confirmed the grant of the Sicilian crown to Edmund, the son of King Henry III of England. However, Henry's inability to secure funds for the expedition led to the outbreak of the Second Barons' War. In , Alexander issued a papal bull releasing Henry from his oath to observe the Oxford Provisions.
Alexander granted Mindovg, King of Lithuania, permission to fight against Daniel of Galicia, damaging relations between Galicia and the Holy See.
Alexander IV died in Viterbo on May 25, , and was buried in the Viterbo Cathedral. His tomb was later destroyed during renovations in the 16th century. Alexander's efforts to reunite the Eastern Orthodox Church and his role in the Second Barons' War continue to shape his legacy in history.