1276: The Year of Four Popes

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Funerary Monument to Pope John XXI, Cathedral of Viterbo

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On September 8th 1276, the Portuguese cardinal Pedro Julião was elected Pope John XXI* (r. 1276-77), making 1276 the year of four popes. 

There have been a total of thirteen instances in which three popes have held office in a given calendar year, but only one instance of four popes.

In addition to John XXI, there was Gregory X (r. 1271 - January 10th, 1276), Innocent V (r. January 21st - June 22nd) and Adrian V (r. July 11th - August 18th). 

Pope John XXI, to date the only Portuguese pope, died less than a year later and was interred in the cathedral in Viterbo, a city 50 miles north of Rome. 

*Owing to a confusion over the numbering of popes named John, the ordinal XX was omitted.

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