On This Day: Pope Alexander II dies in 11th century

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - As Catholics and many others across the world mourn and observe the death of Pope Francis, we look back at another pope who died on April 21 nearly 1,000 years ago.

Pope Alexander II was the 156th pope, and he held the title from Sept. 30, 1061 until April 21, 1073, serving for 11 years, 203 days until his death.

Alexander II was one of the first popes to speak out about the treatment of Jews and to speak out against divorce. When Alexander II found out that Emperor Henry IV planned to divorce his wife, the pope would not approve his coronation and Henry IV returned to his wife.

Pope Alexander II is believed to have sanctioned, or at least informally approved, the Normal Conquest of England in 1066. In that year, Alexander received an embassy from William, Duke of Normandy, after his successful invasion of Brittany. The embassy was sent to obtain Alexander’s blessing for William’s planned invasion of Anglo-Saxon England.

Visitors can tour the Tomb of Pope Alexander II, a sculpture in Vatican City at St. Peter’s Basilica, where he is buried. History does not know his cause of death.

Gregory VII became the pope following Alexander II’s death, assuming the papacy the following day. Alexander II was the first pope named Alexander in more than 1,000 years; the last was Alexander VIII, who served from 1689-1691.

Copyright 2025 KWCH. All rights reserved. To report a correction or typo, please email [email protected]