Nicholas III
Birth name	Giovanni Gaetano Orsini
Papacy began	November 25, 1277
Papacy ended	August 22, 1280
Predecessor	John XXI
Successor	Martin IV
Born	ca. 1210/1220 Rome, Italy
Died	August 22, 1280 Rome, Italy
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For other uses, see Nicholas III of Constantinople..

Nicholas III, né Giovanni Gaetano Orsini (Rome, ca. 1210/1220 – August 22, 1280), Pope from November 25, 1277 to his death in 1280, was a Roman nobleman who had served under eight Popes, been made cardinal-deacon of St. Nicola in carcere Tulliano by Pope Innocent IV (1243–54), protector of the Franciscans by Pope Alexander IV (1254–61), inquisitor-general by Pope Urban IV (1261–64), and succeeded Pope John XXI (1276–77), largely through family influence, after a six-months' vacancy in the Holy See. His brief pontificate was marked by several important events. A born politician, he greatly strengthened the papal position in Italy. He concluded a concordat with Rudolph I of Habsburg (1273–91) in May 1278, by which the Romagna and the exarchate of Ravenna were guaranteed to the Pope; and in July 1278 he issued an epoch-making constitution for the government of Rome, which forbade foreigners taking civil office. Nicholas III issued the bull Exiit on 14 August 1279 to settle the strife within the Franciscan order between the parties of strict and loose observance. He repaired the Lateran Palace and the Vatican at enormous cost, and erected a beautiful country house at Soriano near Viterbo. Nicholas III, though a man of learning noted for his strength of character, is said by our sources to have brought reproach on himself for his efforts to found principalities for his nephews and other relations. He died of a heart attack. Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... November 25 is the 329th (in leap years the 330th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events The philosophical doctrine Averroism is banned from Paris by bishop Etienne Tempier Burmas Pagan empire begins to disintegrate after being defeated by Kublai Khan at Ngasaungsyan, near the Chinese border. ... August 22 is the 234th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (235th in leap years), with 131 days remaining. ... For broader historical context, see 1280s and 13th century. ... John XXI, born Pedro Julião (1215 – May 20, 1277), a Portuguese also called Pedro Hispano (Latin, Petrus Hispanus), was Pope from 1276 until his death. ... Martin IV, né Simon de Brion (ca. ... Events End of the reign of Emperor Tsuchimikado, emperor of Japan Emperor Juntoku ascends to the throne of Japan Otto IV, Holy Roman Emperor excommunicated by Pope Innocent III for invading southern Italy in 1210 Gottfried von Strassburg writes his epic poem Tristan about 1210 Beginning of Delhi Sultanate Births... Centuries: 12th century - 13th century - 14th century Decades: 1170s 1180s 1190s 1200s 1210s - 1220s - 1230s 1240s 1250s 1260s 1270s Years: 1215 1216 1217 1218 1219 - 1220 - 1221 1222 1223 1224 1225 See also: 1220 state leaders The world in 1220 Middle Ages in Europe Fifth Crusade (1217-1221) Events Mongols... City motto: Senatus Populusque Romanus – SPQR (The Senate and the People of Rome) Founded 21 April 753 BC mythical, 1st millennium BC Region Latium Mayor Walter Veltroni (Left-Wing Democrats) Area  - City Proper  1285 km² Population  - City (2004)  - Metropolitan  - Density (city proper) 2. ... August 22 is the 234th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (235th in leap years), with 131 days remaining. ... For broader historical context, see 1280s and 13th century. ... City motto: Senatus Populusque Romanus – SPQR (The Senate and the People of Rome) Founded 21 April 753 BC mythical, 1st millennium BC Region Latium Mayor Walter Veltroni (Left-Wing Democrats) Area  - City Proper  1285 km² Population  - City (2004)  - Metropolitan  - Density (city proper) 2. ... Nicholas III Grammaticus was an Eastern Orthodox patriarch of Constantinople (1084–1111). ... City motto: Senatus Populusque Romanus – SPQR (The Senate and the People of Rome) Founded 21 April 753 BC mythical, 1st millennium BC Region Latium Mayor Walter Veltroni (Left-Wing Democrats) Area  - City Proper  1285 km² Population  - City (2004)  - Metropolitan  - Density (city proper) 2. ... Events End of the reign of Emperor Tsuchimikado, emperor of Japan Emperor Juntoku ascends to the throne of Japan Otto IV, Holy Roman Emperor excommunicated by Pope Innocent III for invading southern Italy in 1210 Gottfried von Strassburg writes his epic poem Tristan about 1210 Beginning of Delhi Sultanate Births... Centuries: 12th century - 13th century - 14th century Decades: 1170s 1180s 1190s 1200s 1210s - 1220s - 1230s 1240s 1250s 1260s 1270s Years: 1215 1216 1217 1218 1219 - 1220 - 1221 1222 1223 1224 1225 See also: 1220 state leaders The world in 1220 Middle Ages in Europe Fifth Crusade (1217-1221) Events Mongols... August 22 is the 234th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (235th in leap years), with 131 days remaining. ... For broader historical context, see 1280s and 13th century. ... The Pope (from Greek: pappas, father; from Latin: papa, Papa, father) is the successor of St. ... November 25 is the 329th (in leap years the 330th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events The philosophical doctrine Averroism is banned from Paris by bishop Etienne Tempier Burmas Pagan empire begins to disintegrate after being defeated by Kublai Khan at Ngasaungsyan, near the Chinese border. ... Innocent IV, born Sinibaldo de Fieschi (Genoa, ca. ... The Order of Friars Minor and other Franciscan movements are disciples of Saint Francis of Assisi. ... Alexander IV, né Rinaldo Conti (Anagni, ca. ... Urban IV, born Jacques Pantaléon (Troyes, ca. ... John XXI, born Pedro Julião (1215 – May 20, 1277), a Portuguese also called Pedro Hispano (Latin, Petrus Hispanus), was Pope from 1276 until his death. ... A concordat is an agreement between the pope and a government or sovereign on religious matters. ... The brass of the tomb of Rudolph I in Speyer Rudolph I (Rudolph of Hapsburg) (May 1, 1218 - July 15, 1291) was a German king. ... For broader historical context, see 1270s and 13th century. ... Emilia-Romagna is an administrative region of Northern Italy comprising the two historic regions of Emilia and Romagna. ... In the Byzantine Empire, an exarch was a proconsul or viceroy who governed a province at some remove from the central authorities, the Emperor and the Patriarch of Constantinople. ... Ravenna is a city in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. ... August 14 is the 226th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (227th in leap years), with 139 days remaining. ... For broader historical context, see 1270s and 13th century. ... The Lateran Palace, sometimes more formally known as the Palace of the Lateran, is an ancient palace of the Roman Empire and later a Palace of the Popes. ... This article needs copyediting (checking for proper English spelling, grammar, usage, tone, style, and voice). ... Prince Albert of Monaco on the left represents a principality where he wields administrative authority. ...

Dante in The Inferno (The Divine Comedy) talks briefly to Pope Nicholas III, who was condemned to spend eternity in the Eighth Circle, Third Bolgia of Hell, reserved for Simonists. Those who committed simony were placed head-first in holes, flames burning on the soles of their feet (Canto 19). Dante in a fresco series of famous men by Andrea del Castagno, ca. ... Dante shown holding a copy of The Divine Comedy, next to the entrance to Hell, the seven terraces of Mount Purgatory and the city of Florence, with the spheres of Heaven above, in Michelinos fresco. ... Simony is the ecclesiastical crime and personal sin of paying for offices or positions in the hierarchy of a church, named after Simon Magus, who appears in the Acts of the Apostles 8:18-24. ...

John XXI, born Pedro Julião (1215 – May 20, 1277), a Portuguese also called Pedro Hispano (Latin, Petrus Hispanus), was Pope from 1276 until his death. ... For a graphical representation of this list, see list of popes (graphical). ... Martin IV, né Simon de Brion (ca. ...

References

• This article incorporates text from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, a publication in the public domain.