Editing Pope Victor III (section)

== Papacy ==
{{main|Papal election, 1086}}
Though certainly a strong partisan of the Hildebrandine reforms, Desiderius belonged to the moderate party and could not always see eye-to-eye with [[Pope Gregory VII]] in his most intransigent proceedings. Yet when the latter lay dying at [[Salerno]] on 25 May 1085, the Abbot of Monte Cassino was one of those whom he recommended to the cardinals of southern Italy as fittest to succeed him. The Roman people had expelled the [[Antipope Clement III]] from the city, and hither Desiderius hastened to consult with the cardinals on the approaching [[Papal election, 1086|election]]. Finding, however, that they were bent on forcing the papal dignity upon him, he fled to Monte Cassino, where he busied himself in exhorting the Normans and Lombards to rally to the support of the Holy See. When autumn came, Desiderius accompanied the Norman army on its march to Rome. However, when he became aware of the plot between the cardinals and the Norman princes to force the [[papal tiara]] on him, he would not enter Rome unless they swore to abandon their design. They refused to do that, and the election was postponed. At about Easter<ref>Chron. Cass., III, 66</ref> the bishops and [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|cardinals]] assembled at Rome summoned Desiderius and the cardinals who were with him at Monte Cassino to come to Rome to treat concerning the election.

On 23 May a great meeting was held in the deaconry of St. Lucy, and Desiderius was again importuned to accept the papacy but persisted in his refusal, threatening to return to his monastery in case of violence. On the next day, the feast of [[Pentecost]], the same scene was repeated very early in the morning. The Roman [[consul]] Cencius now suggested the election of Odo, [[Cardinal-Bishop]] of [[Ostia Antica (district)|Ostia]] (afterwards pope [[Urban II]]), but this was rejected by some of the cardinals on the grounds that the [[Translation (ecclesiastical)|translation]] of a bishop was contrary to ecclesiastical law.

Desiderius was finally elected on 24 May 1086 in the deaconry of S. Lucia in Septisolis. He took the name Victor III.<ref name="Miranda">{{cite web|authorlink=Salvador Miranda (historian) |last=Miranda |first=Salvador |title=Papal elections of the 11th Century (1061-1099): Election of May 24, 1086 (Victor III)|url=https://cardinals.fiu.edu/conclave-xi.htm#1086|work=The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church |accessdate=|publisher=[[Florida International University]]|oclc=53276621}}</ref> Four days later, pope and cardinals had to flee from Rome due to the presence of the Antipope Clement III,<ref>Grant 2016, p. 995</ref> and at [[Terracina]], in spite of all protests, Victor laid aside the papal insignia and once more retired to Monte Cassino, where he remained nearly a whole year. In the middle of [[Lent]] 1087, the pope-elect assisted at a council of cardinals and bishops held at [[Capua]] as "Papal vicar of those parts" (letter of Hugh of Lyons) together with the Norman princes, Cencius the Consul and the Roman nobles. Here, Victor finally yielded and "by the assumption of the cross and purple confirmed the past election".<ref>Chron. Cass., III, 68</ref> How much his obstinacy had irritated some of the prelates is evidenced in the letter of Hugh of Lyons preserved by [[Hugh of Flavigny]].<ref>Monumenta German. History: Script. VIII, 466–468</ref>

After the Normans had driven the soldiers of the Antipope Clement III out of St. Peter's, Victor  III was finally consecrated and enthroned on 21 March 1087. He only remained eight days in Rome and then returned to Monte Cassino, though with the help of Matilda and Jordan, he took back the [[Vatican Hill]]. Before May was out, he was once more in Rome in answer to a summons for the countess [[Matilda of Tuscany]], whose troops held the [[Leonine City]] and [[Trastevere]]. By the end of June Clement III once more gained possession of St. Peter's, Victor again withdrew at once to his Monte Cassino abbey.