Editing Pope Adrian IV (section)

===Move to France and promotion===
[[File:St Alban's cathedral - geograph.org.uk - 1344.jpg|thumb|St Albans Abbey, now a Cathedral, pictured in 2005|alt=Colour photograph of St Albans Abbey, now a cathedral|left]]
The next point at which Breakspear can be positively identified is in the [[Southern France|Southern French]] town of [[Arles]], where he continued his studies{{sfn|Parry|1997|p=18}} in [[canon law]],{{sfn|Duggan|2004|p=189 n.80}} and probably under the masters of Roman law also.{{sfn|Egger|2003|p=20}} On completion of his studies he became a [[canon regular]] at the Abbey of Saint-Ruf in [[Avignon]],{{refn|In English, St Rufus,{{sfn|Parry|1997|p=18}} this was an important regional [[motherhouse]].{{sfn|Zinn|1995|p=1481}}{{sfn|Morris|1989|p=190}}|group=note}} around {{convert|40|km|mi}} to the north of Arles. He was soon appointed [[Prior (ecclesiastical)|prior]]{{sfn|Poole|1969|p=291}} and then abbot of St Ruf.{{sfn|Sayers|2004}} While still a canon, in 1140 he appears to have written a charter in [[Barcelona]].{{sfn|Poole|1969|p=294}} However, there appear to have been complaints that he was overly strict,{{sfn|Norwich|2011}} and the monks rebelled.{{sfn|Poole|1969|p=294}} As a result, he was summoned to Rome;{{sfn|Parry|1997|p=18}}{{sfn|Norwich|2011}} a temporary peace was established, but it was not long until the monks rebelled again.{{sfn|Poole|1969|p=294}} Breakspear may have visited Rome three times while at St Ruf—"each time with more conspicuous success"—and which would have consumed many months of his time.{{sfn|Poole|1969|pp=294–295}}

Sayers suggests that it was while Breakspear was at St Ruf that he attracted the attention of [[Pope Eugenius III]],{{sfn|Sayers|2004}} who saw in him useful leadership qualities.{{sfn|Parry|1997|p=18}}{{refn|Eugenius may also have been an [[Anglophile]], as it appears that he once told John of Salisbury "that he found the English admirably fitted to perform any task they turned their hand to, and thus to be preferred to all other races – except, he added, when frivolity got the better of them".{{sfn|Norwich|1970|p=172}}|group=note}} It is known that in 1147, while Eugenius was in [[Vico Pancellorum|Vico]] he granted one "N. abbot of St Rufus".{{sfn|Poole|1969|p=294}} It was probably in 1148 that Breakspear met one who would become his good friend, [[John of Salisbury]], in [[Rheims]],{{sfn|Brooke|2003|p=7}} and soon after when Eugenius{{sfn|Morris|1989|p=190}}{{sfn|Bolton|2003a|p=75}} appointed him [[Cardinal-Bishop]] of [[Roman Catholic Suburbicarian Diocese of Albano|Albano]],{{sfn|Sayers|2004}} making Adrian at the time only the second Englishman to have been promoted to that rank.{{sfn|Robinson|2004|p=355}}{{refn|The first had been the theologian [[Robert Pullen]], to the Cardinalate of [[SS. Martino e Silvestro]].{{sfn|Robinson|2004|p=355}}|group=note}} in which capacity he attended the [[Council of Reims (1148)|Council of Reims]] in November 1148.{{sfn|Duggan|2004|p=180}}{{sfn|Smith|2003|p=33}} Poole suggests that Breakspear's promotion was Eugenius' method of alleviating the monks' complaints, as Eugenius told them to "go forth [and] elect you a father with whom ye can or will live in peace; he [Breakspear] shall no longer be a burthen to you".{{sfn|Poole|1969|p=294}} When Breakspear was later pope, however, he seemed to favour St Ruf well, for example authorising them to send a delegation to the [[Cathedral chapter|chapter]] of [[Pisa Cathedral]] to cut stone and columns. The chapter was requested, says Egger, to "help them in every possible way to conduct their business".{{sfn|Egger|2003|p=27}}

Poole questions the reasoning for Breakspear's episcopal promotion. Not only was his abbey an obscure one, with little political value or great endowment, but Breakspear's reasons for attending the Papal court were unlikely to have enabled him to make a name for himself. Indeed, on at least one occasion it was in response to a summons concerning his behaviour. However, suggest Poole, a possible explanation may have its roots in Breakspear's residency at Merton.{{sfn|Poole|1969|p=295}}{{refn|Poole suggests that in the early-to-mid-portion of the 12th century, Merton was much favoured by [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Séez#Bishops|John, Bishop of Séez]], and it had been Bishop John who had appointed Robert Pullen to the [[Archdeacon of Rochester#High Medieval|Archdeaconry of Rochester]]; by 1149, Pullen was Papal Chancellor and, Poole suggests, listened favourably to the recommendation of Séez regarding Breakspeare, particularly as he was a fellow countryman.{{sfn|Poole|1969|p=295}}|group=note}} Duggan notes that the Cardinal Bishopric of Albino was part of the Pope's inner circle, which she suggests makes his rapid elevation to such a sensitive position all the more remarkable and indicative of the now-unrecognisable qualities that Eugenius saw in him.{{sfn|Duggan|2003b|p=201}}