Pope Adrian IV died at Anagni, Italy, on 1 September 1159. Born Nicholas Breakspear in Hertfordshire around 1100, he remains the only Englishman to have become pope.

Breakspear left England as a young man and eventually joined the religious community of St Ruf near Avignon. He became prior, and then abbot before Pope Eugenius III made him a cardinal. In 1152 he was sent as papal legate to Scandinavia, where he helped reorganise the Church in the region.

He was elected pope in December 1154 and took the name Adrian IV. His pontificate quickly brought political problems. Disorder in Rome forced him to confront the republican movement associated with Arnold of Brescia. At the same time, relations with the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa became increasingly difficult.

Adrian’s dealings with Frederick involved competing papal and imperial claims to authority in Italy. Their relationship deteriorated during the later years of his pontificate, leaving the dispute unresolved when Adrian died.

He had been pope for less than five years. Adrian was buried at St Peter’s in Rome. The election following his death produced rival claimants to the papacy, with Alexander III eventually recognised as his successor.