The popes of the Anglo-Saxon period who are known to have dealt with England: a timeline of their pontificates, with the letters, bulls and privileges that each sent to English kings, queens, bishops and religious houses.
0popes who wrote to England
0letters, bulls and privileges
590–1073from Gregory I to Alexander II
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The popes of the Anglo-Saxon period who are known to have written to English kings, queens, bishops or religious houses, with the length of each pontificate. Click a pope for his letters; the full register is on the Papal Letters page.
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16th centuryGregory I (590–604) · 3 lettersletters to kings and bishopsOpen →87th centuryBoniface IV to Sergius I · 18 lettersfor St Augustine's, Canterbury and othersOpen →68th centuryJohn VI to Leo III · 19 lettersfor Abingdon and othersOpen →49th centuryPaschal I to Formosus · 7 lettersfor Winchcombe and othersOpen →510th centuryJohn XII to Gregory V · 9 lettersfor St Augustine's, Canterbury and othersOpen →611th centuryJohn XVIII to Alexander II · 15 lettersfor Ramsey and othersOpen →
6th century 1 pope
590–6043 letters
Gregory I
Letters and privileges
- A.1 Letter of Pope Gregory I (590–604) to Augustine, granting the pallium (22 June 601)
- A.2 Letter of Pope Gregory I (590–604) to Æthelberht, king ‘of the English’ (22 June 601)
- A.3 Letter of Pope Gregory I (590–604) to Queen Bertha, wife of King Æthelberht (22 June 601)
7th century 8 popes
608–151 letter
Boniface IV
Letters and privileges
- A.0 Bull of Pope Boniface IV (608–15), addressed to Æthelberht, king ‘of the English’, granting privileges to St Augustine’s abbey, Canterbury (611, 27 Feb.) Archive: St Augustine's, Canterbury
615–181 letter
Deusdedit
Letters and privileges
- A.0 Bull of Pope Deusdedit (615–18) for St Augustine's abbey, Canterbury Archive: St Augustine's, Canterbury
619–253 letters
Boniface V
Letters and privileges
- A.0 Letter of Pope Boniface V (619–25) to Justus, archbishop of Canterbury
- A.0 Letter of Pope Boniface V (619–25) to Edwin, king of the Northumbrians
- A.0 Letter of Pope Boniface V (619–25) to Queen Æthelburh, wife of King Edwin
625–382 letters
Honorius I
Letters and privileges
- A.0 Letter of Pope Honorius I (625–38) to King Edwin, king of the Northumbrian
- A.0 Letter of Pope Honorius I (625–38) to Honorius, archbishop of Canterbury, on journeys to Rome for the pallium
657–721 letter
Vitalian
Letters and privileges
- A.0 Letter of Pope Vitalian (657–72) to Oswiu, king of the Northumbrians
672–61 letter
Adeodatus II
Letters and privileges
- A.0 Bull of Pope Adeodatus II (672–6), addressed to Adrian, abbot of St Peter's abbey, Canterbury (673, 23 Dec. Archive: St Augustine's, Canterbury
678–816 letters
Agatho
Letters and privileges
- A.0 Bull of Pope Agatho (678–81), addressed to Adrian, abbot of the monastery of SS Peter and Paul, Canterbury (675, 15 May) Archive: St Augustine's, Canterbury
- A.0 Bull of Pope Agatho (678–81) for Benedict Biscop, in respect of Wearmouth (679)
- A.0 Bull of Pope Agatho (678–81) for Medeshamstede [Peterborough] (680), Latin and OE versions Archive: Peterborough
- A.0 Bull of Pope Agatho (678–81) for Bishop Wilfrid, in respect of Ripon and Hexham (680)
- A.0 Bull of Pope Agatho (678–81) for St Paul's, London (678 x 681) Archive: London, St Paul's
- A.0 Bull of Pope Agatho (678–81) to Bishop Eorcenwald, for Chertsey abbey (678 x 681) Archive: Chertsey
687–7013 letters
Sergius I
Letters and privileges
- A.0 Bull of Pope Sergius I (687–701) to Abbot Aldhelm, for Malmesbury abbey and Frome abbey (?700), Latin and OE versions Archive: Malmesbury
- A.0 Letter of Pope Sergius I (687–701) to Abbot Ceolfrith, for Wearmouth and Jarrow (?700)
- A.0 Bull of Pope Sergius I (687–701) for Wearmouth (?700)
8th century 6 popes
701–51 letter
John VI
Letters and privileges
- A.0 Letter of Pope John VI (701–5) for (704)
708–153 letters
Constantine I
Letters and privileges
- A.0 Letter of Pope Constantine I (708–15) to Archbishop Brihtwold, concerning the vision of Bishop Ecgwine, etc. (709) Archive: Evesham MS: Lost; script--facsimile in Sir Christopher Hatton's 'Book of Seals', no. 440 [photocopy]
- A.0 Bull of Pope Constantine I (708–15) for the monasteries of Bermondsey and Woking, at the request of Hædda, abbot and priest (713) Archive: Peterborough
- A.0 Letter of Pope Constantine I (708–15) to Archbishop Brihtwold, for Evesham abbey (713) Archive: Evesham
715–311 letter
Gregory II
Letters and privileges
- A.0 Letter of Pope Gregory II (715–31) to Abbot Hwætberht of Wearmouth and Jarrow (716, 24 Sept.)
757–671 letter
Paul I
Letters and privileges
- B.0 Letter of Pope Paul I (757–67) to Eadberht, king of Northumbria, and his brother Egbert, archbishop of York (757–8) MSS: BL Cotton Vespasian A. xiv, fol. 00; BL Cotton Tiberius A. xv, fol. 00
772–953 letters
Hadrian I
Letters and privileges
- B.0 Letter of Pope Hadrian I (772–95) to Charlemagne, concerning the rumour that Offa and Charlemagne were plotting to depose the pope (?785)
- B.0 Report of the legates to Pope Hadrian I (772–95) (786) MS: [Wolfenbüttel], Cod. Guelferbit. Helmstad. MS. 454 (s. x), fols. 113–27 [photocopy] , see Story, Carolingian Connections, pp. 70–4
- B.0 Bull of Pope Hadrian I (772–95) for King Offa, his wife Cynethryth, and their offspring, granting possession of monasteries which Offa had founded or acquired, and which were consecrated in honour of St Peter (772 x 795) MSS: <Liber Diurnus, no. 93>
795–81610 letters
Leo III
Letters and privileges
- B.0 Letter of Pope Leo III (795–816) to Coenwulf, king of the Mercians, and bishops and ealdormen, concerning King Offa and the archbishopric of Lichfield (798) MS: BL Cotton Vespasian A. xiv, fol. 00
- B.0 Bull of Pope Leo III (795–816) to Cynehelm, in respect of Glastonbury abbey (798, 8 Mar.) Archive: Glastonbury
- B.0 Bull of Pope Leo III (795–816), issued at the request of King Coenwulf, in respect of a church at Culham, Oxon., for the benefit of his sisters, with reversion to Abingdon abbey (?801) Archive: Abingdon
- B.0 Bull of Pope Leo III (795–816) confirming Culham, Oxon, to Abingdon abbey (?801) Archive: Abingdon
- B.0 Letter of Pope Leo III (795–816) to King Coenwulf, urging him to confirm the grant of Culham to Abingdon abbey (?801) Archive: Abingdon
- B.0 Bull of Pope Leo III (795–816) for Abbot Rethun and Abingdon abbey (?801) Archive: Abingdon
- B.0 Letter of Pope Leo III (795–816) to Æthelheard, archbishop of Canterbury, establishing the rights of the archbishopric of Canterbury (802, 18 Jan.) MS: <WM, GP>
- B.0 Letter of Pope Leo III (795–816) to Charlemagne, alluding to Archbishop Eanbald, King Coenwulf, and Archbishop Wulfred (808)
- B.0 Letter of Pope Leo III (795–816) to Charlemagne, with reference to the legate Aldulf (808)
- B.0 Bull of Pope Leo III (795–816) for King Coenwulf and his heirs, in respect of the monastery where he would be buried [Winchcombe], and other monasteries 'in insula Saxonia' (811) Archive: Winchcombe
9th century 4 popes
817–241 letter
Paschal I
Letters and privileges
- B.0 Letter of Pope Paschal I (817–24), to King Coenwulf, concerning the king's monasteries and possessions (817/818) Archive: Winchcombe
847–552 letters
Leo IV
Letters and privileges
- C.0 Letter of Pope Leo IV (847–55) to Æthelwulf, king 'of the English', concerning his reception of Æthelwulf's son Alfred in Rome (853) MS: BL Add. 8873 (Collectio Britannica), fol. 168r (extract), in section 'ex registro Leonis .iiii.' [photocopy]
- C.0 Letter of Pope Leo IV (847–55) to Ceolnoth, archbishop of Canterbury, and Berhtwulf, king of the Mercians MS: BL Add. 8873 (Collectio Britannica), fol. 00 (extract)
872–823 letters
John VIII
Letters and privileges
- C.0 Letter of Pope John VIII (872–82) to Burgred, king of the Mercians, on the sin of fornication, 'for which you suffer such adversities' (873 x 874) MS: BL Add. 8873 (Collectio Britannica), fol. 128v (extract)
- C.0 Letter of Pope John VIII (872–82) to Æthelred, archbishop of Canterbury, and Wulfhere [sic], archbishop of York, and all the bishops, priests, deacons, and clergy, in England (873 x 875)
- C.0 Letter of Pope John VIII (872–82) to Æthelred, archbishop of Canterbury, urging him to resist the king (877 x 878)
891–61 letter
Formosus
Letters and privileges
- C.0 Letter of Pope Formosus (891–6) to the bishops of England
10th century 5 popes
955–644 letters
John XII
Letters and privileges
- D.1 Letter of Pope John XII (955–64) to King Eadred, granting privileges to St Augustine's abbey, Canterbury (956, 22 Apr.) Archive: St Augustine's, Canterbury
- D.2 Letter of Pope John XII (955–64) to King Eadred and Archbishop Odo, granting privileges to St Augustine's abbey, Canterbury (956, 22 Apr.) Archive: St Augustine's, Canterbury
- D.3 Privilege of Pope John XII (955–64), accompanying the grant of a pallium to Archbishop Dunstan (960, 21 Sept.) Provenance: Sherborne (via Canterbury) MS: Paris, BN ms lat. 943 (‘Sherborne Pontifical’), fols. 7–8
- D.4 Letter of Pope John XII (955–64) granting permission for the ejection of secular canons from the Old Minster, Winchester (963 [or 971]) Archive: Old Minster, Winchester
965–722 letters
John XIII
Letters and privileges
- D.5 Letter of Pope John XIII (965–72) to King Edgar, granting privileges to St Peter's abbey, Westminster (967, 24 Jan.) Archive: Westminster
- D.7 Bull of Pope John XIII (965–72) for Glastonbury abbey, at the request of King Edgar and Archbishop Dunstan (971) Archive: Glastonbury
983–41 letter
John XIV
Letters and privileges
- D.0 Letter of Pope John XIV (983–4) or XV (985–96) to Ealdorman Ælfric (? 983) Archive: Canterbury? MS: BL Cotton Tiberius A. xv, fol. 169v
985–961 letter
John XV
Letters and privileges
- D.0 Letter of Pope John XV (985–96), concerning a peace established between King Æthelred and Richard I, duke of Normandy (991, 1 Mar.) Archive: Canterbury? MS: BL Cotton Tiberius A. xv, fol. 172v; WM, GR
996–91 letter
Gregory V
Letters and privileges
- D.0 Letter of Pope Gregory V (996–9) to Ælfric, 'bishop of the Anglo–Saxons' (archbishop of Canterbury) (997 x 999) MS: Copenhagen <>.
11th century 6 popes
1003–92 letters
John XVIII
Letters and privileges
- D.0 Letter of Pope John XVIII (1003–9) to a bishop in England (1003 x 1009) MS: Copenhagen <>
- D.0 Letter of Pope John XVIII (1003–9) to Wulfstan, archbishop of York (1003 x 1009) MS: Copenhagen <>
1024–321 letter
John XIX
Letters and privileges
- D.0 Letter of Pope John XIX (1024–32) to an archbishop in England (1024 x 1032) MS: CCCC 265, pp. 112–13
1049–544 letters
Leo IX
Letters and privileges
- D.0 Vernacular account of proceedings at the Council of Rheims, under Pope Leo IX (1049–54), preserved in the royal treasury, under Hugelin cubicularius (1049)
- D.0 Bull of Pope Leo IX (1049–54) for Abbot Ælfwine and Ramsey abbey, obtained by him at the Council of Rheims (1049) Archive: Ramsey
- D.0 Letter of Pope Leo IX (1049–54) to King Edward the Confessor, on the transfer of the see from Crediton to Exeter (1050)
- D.0 Penitential letter from Pope Leo IX (1049–54)
1055–73 letters
Victor II
Letters and privileges
- D.0 Bull of Pope Victor II (1055–7) addressed to King Edward the Confessor, for Chertsey abbey (1055 x 1057) Archive: Chertsey
- D.0 Bull of Pope Victor II (1055–7) addressed to King Edward the Confessor, for Ely abbey (1055 x 1057) Archive: Ely
- D.0 Bull of Pope Victor II (1055–7) to Godiva, wife of Earl Leofric, for St Mary's, Stow (1055 x 1057) Archive: Eynsham
1058–613 letters
Nicholas II
Letters and privileges
- D.0 Bull of Pope Nicholas II (1058–61) to Giso, bishop of Wells, confirming the possessions of his see (1061, 25 Apr.) Archive: Wells MS: Wells, D. & C., Cathedral Charters, no. 2 (original) Facsimile: see Hickes, Dissertatio Epistolaris (1703)
- D.0 Bull of Pope Nicholas II (1058–61) to Wulfwig, bishop of Dorchester, confirming the possessions of his see (1061, 3 May) Archive: Lincoln
- D.0 Bull of Pope Nicholas II (1058–61) to Ealdred, archbishop of York, granting him the pallium, etc. (1061) Archive: York MS: MRA, 40r
1061–732 letters
Alexander II
Letters and privileges
- D.0 Bull of Pope Alexander II (1061–73) for Abbot Ælfwine and Ramsey abbey, obtained by the abbot when on a visit to Rome on the king's business (1062 x 1065)
- D.0 Letter of Pope Alexander II (1061–73) to Ordric, abbot of Abingdon Archive: Abingdon
Transferred from the earlier Kemble website (Trinity College, Cambridge, 2000–2), where it was marked provisional and under construction; reformatted here, with the wording unchanged.