# Pope Adrian I

_Pope from 772 to 795_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/pope-adrian-i
Last updated: 2026-11-03

> Pope Adrian I (Latin: Hadrianus I; 700 – 25 December 795) was the bishop of Rome and leader of the Papal States from 1 February 772 until his death on 25 December 795.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 700 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q103292#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Rome ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q103292#P19))
- **Died:** 25 December 795 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q103292#P570))
- **Place of death:** Rome ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q103292#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Papal States ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q103292#P27))
- **Occupation:** Catholic priest; author ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q103292#P106))
- **Positions held:** Pope (5 February 772 – 25 December 795) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q103292#P39))

## About

Descended from a family of the military aristocracy of Rome known as domini de via Lata, he was the son of Theodore, who died when Hadrian was still very young; he was welcomed by his paternal uncle Theodotus (or Theodatus) consul, dux et primicerius Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae.

Adrian and his predecessors had to contend with periodic attempts by the Lombards to expand their holdings in Italy at the expense of the papacy. Not receiving any support from Constantinople, the popes looked for help to the Franks. Adrian's tenure saw the culmination of on-going territorial disputes between Charlemagne and his brother Carloman I. The Lombard king Desiderius supported the claims of Carloman's sons to their late father's land, and requested Pope Adrian crown Carloman's sons "Kings of the Franks". When the Pope failed to do so, Desiderius invaded Papal territory and seized the Duchy of the Pentapolis. Charlemagne besieged Pavia and took the Lombard crown for himself. He then restored the Pentapolis to the Papacy as well as some of the captured Lombard territory.

## Questions

**When was Pope Adrian I born?**  
Pope Adrian I was born on 700 in Rome.

**What positions has Pope Adrian I held?**  
Positions held by Pope Adrian I include: Pope (0772–0795).

## Related

- [Pope Telesphorus](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-telesphorus)
- [Pope Gregory XIII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-gregory-xiii)
- [Pope Clement VII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-clement-vii)
- [Pope Pius I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-pius-i)
- [Pope Boniface I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-boniface-i)
- [Pope Agapetus I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-agapetus-i)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Pope Adrian I](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Adrian_I) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q103292](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q103292) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Zecca di roma, denaro di adriano I, 772-795, in argento (bibl. apostolica vaticana).jpg by Francesco Bini (CC BY-SA 4.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zecca_di_roma,_denaro_di_adriano_I,_772-795,_in_argento_(bibl._apostolica_vaticana).jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Pope Adrian I, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Zecca di roma, denaro di adriano I, 772-795, in argento (bibl. apostolica vaticana).jpg — Francesco Bini, CC BY-SA 4.0.

## Cite this page

"Pope Adrian I". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/pope-adrian-i. Retrieved 5 November 2026.