# Pope Adrian IV

_Pope from 1154 to 1159_

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

> Pope Adrian IV was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 4 December 1154 until his death in 1159. He is the only pope to have been born in England and the first of two from an English-speaking country, alongside Pope Leo XIV.

## Quick facts

- **Place of birth:** Abbots Langley ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q132845#P19))
- **Died:** 1 September 1159 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q132845#P570))
- **Place of death:** Anagni ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q132845#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Kingdom of England ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q132845#P27))
- **Occupation:** diplomat; philosopher; Catholic priest; Catholic bishop ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q132845#P106))
- **Education:** St Albans School ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q132845#P69))
- **Positions held:** Pope (11 December 1154 – 1 September 1159); cardinal (since 1146); Cardinal-Bishop of Albano (1146–1154); abbot; ambassador ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q132845#P39))

## Questions

**What positions has Pope Adrian IV held?**  
Positions held by Pope Adrian IV include: Pope (1154–1159); cardinal (since 1146); Cardinal-Bishop of Albano (1146–1154); abbot; ambassador.

**Where did Pope Adrian IV study?**  
Pope Adrian IV was educated at St Albans School.

## Related

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- [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)
- [Pope Hormisdas](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-hormisdas)
- [Pope Innocent VIII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-innocent-viii)
- [Pope Alexander VIII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-alexander-viii)
- [Pope Innocent X](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-innocent-x)
- [Pope Paul IV](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-paul-iv)
- [Pope Alexander VI](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-alexander-vi)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Pope Adrian IV](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Adrian_IV) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q132845](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q132845) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Adrian IV, servus servorum dei (cropped).png by Unknown medieval illustrator (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Adrian_IV,_servus_servorum_dei_(cropped).png)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Pope Adrian IV, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Adrian IV, servus servorum dei (cropped).png — Unknown medieval illustrator, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Pope Adrian IV". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/pope-adrian-iv. Retrieved 6 November 2026.