On This Day
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French Cardinal Pierre de Tarantaise elected head of the Catholic Church, takes the name of Pope Innocent V

Pope Innocent V (Latin: Innocentius V; c. 1225 – 22 June 1276), born Pierre de Tarentaise, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 21 January to 22 June 1276.

Pope Innocent V (Latin: Innocentius V; c. 1225 – 22 June 1276), born Pierre de Tarentaise, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 21 January to 22 June 1276. A member of the Order of Preachers, he acquired a reputation as an effective preacher. He held one of the two "Dominican Chairs" at the University of Paris, and was instrumental in helping with drawing up the "program of studies" for the Order. In 1269, Peter of Tarentaise was Provincial of the French Province of Dominicans. He was a close collaborator of Pope Gregory X, who named him Bishop of Ostia and raised him to cardinal in 1273.

Upon the death of Gregory in 1276, Peter was elected pope, taking the name Innocent V and becoming the first pope elected in a papal conclave.

Historical Significance

Pope Innocent V (Latin: Innocentius V; c.

Events Before

  1. Around 1,000 soldiers of the Mongol army land on the Japanese island of Tsushima in the first attack of Kublai Khan's Mo

    Around 1,000 soldiers of the Mongol army land on the Japanese island of Tsushima in the first attack of Kublai Khan's Mongol invasion of Japan

  2. Second Council of Lyon (14th ecumenical council) opens, convened by Pope Gregory X

    The Second Council of Lyon was the fourteenth ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church, convoked on 31 March 1272 and convened in Lyon, Kingdom of Arles (in modern France), in 1274.

  3. Mongol army lands at Hakata Bay in Japan during their first invasion attempt and are defeated; a typhoon destroys most o

    Mongol army lands at Hakata Bay in Japan during their first invasion attempt and are defeated; a typhoon destroys most of their fleet as they withdraw

  4. Thomas Aquinas dies

    Thomas Aquinas, Dominican dominican theologian and philosopher, known for italian dominican theologian and philosopher, died on 1274-03-07. Thomas Aquinas ( ə-KWY-nəs; Italian: Tommaso d'Aquino, lit.

  5. Traditional founding of the city of Amsterdam

    Amsterdam has a long and eventful history. The origins of the city lie around 1000 CE, when inhabitants settled at the mouth of the Amstel and began peatland reclamation.

Events After

  1. Condemnation of 219 philosophical and theological theses by Stephen Tempier, Bishop of Paris

    Condemnation of 219 philosophical and theological theses by Stephen Tempier, Bishop of Paris

  2. As Vizier Mehmet I of Karaman issues a firman (decree) ordering only the Turkish language to be used, not Arabic or Pers

    As Vizier Mehmet I of Karaman issues a firman (decree) ordering only the Turkish language to be used, not Arabic or Persian

  3. Giovanni Gaetano Orsini elected as Pope Nicolas III

    Pope Nicholas III (Latin: Nicolaus III; c. 1225 – 22 August 1280), born Giovanni Gaetano Orsini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 25 November 1277 to his death on 22...

  4. Jews in England are imprisoned on charges of coin clipping and counterfeiting

    Jews in England are imprisoned on charges of coin clipping and counterfeiting

  5. Battle of Marchfeld: Rudolf of Habsburg defeats Ottokar II

    Ottokar II (Czech: Přemysl Otakar II.; c. 1233, in Městec Králové, Bohemia – 26 August 1278, in Dürnkrut, Lower Austria), the Iron and Golden King, was a member of the Přemyslid dynasty who reigned...

More from the 1270s

Mongolian victory at the naval Battle of Yamen ends the Song Dynasty in China

The Battle of Yamen, also known as the Battle of Yashan, was a naval battle which took place in southern China on 19 March 1279.

BC Ramesses II, also known as Ramesses the Great becomes Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt's 19th Dynasty

BC Ramesses II, also known as Ramesses the Great becomes Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt's 19th Dynasty

Around 1,000 soldiers of the Mongol army land on the Japanese island of Tsushima in the first attack of Kublai Khan's Mo

Around 1,000 soldiers of the Mongol army land on the Japanese island of Tsushima in the first attack of Kublai Khan's Mongol invasion of Japan

Nichiren, a Japanese Buddhist monk, founder of Nichiren Buddhism, inscribes the Dai-Gohonzon

Nichiren was a Japanese Buddhist monk and philosopher of the Kamakura period. His teachings form the basis of Nichiren Buddhism, a unique branch of Japanese Mahayana Buddhism based on the Lotus...

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on January 21, 1276?
Pope Innocent V (Latin: Innocentius V; c. 1225 – 22 June 1276), born Pierre de Tarentaise, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 21 January to 22 June 1276. A member of the Order of Preachers, he acquired a reputation as an effective preacher.
Why is French Cardinal Pierre de Tarantaise elected head of the Catholic Church, tak... significant?
Pope Innocent V (Latin: Innocentius V; c.

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January 21 in HistoryYear 1276