Background
He was born into the noble Orsini family in Rome and served as a Cardinal-Deacon prior to becoming pope.
He was born into the noble Orsini family in Rome and served as a Cardinal-Deacon prior to becoming pope.
He was ordained as a priest on 13 April 1191 and he ruled the church for six years, nine months, and nine days before he died aged 92. He was buried at the Lateran. Cardinal
Considered by the Roman Curia as an expert on Spain, Bobone conducted two legatine missions to Spain in (1154-1155) and (1172-1175) as the Cardinal-Deacon of Santa Maria in Cosmedin.
Pontificate
He crowned the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI on the day after his election in 1191 with a ceremony symbolizing his absolute supremacy, as described by Roger of Hoveden.
He subsequently excommunicated the same Henry VI for wrongfully keeping King Richard I of England in prison. He placed Pisa under an interdict, which was lifted by his successor Innocent III in 1198.
Death
He would have resigned the papacy and recommended a successor (Cardinal Giovanni di San Paolo, OSB) shortly before his death, but was not allowed to do so by the cardinals.