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The tidings are said to have precipitated Pope Innocent's death on 7 December 1254 in Naples. From triumph to disaster had taken only a few months. Shortly after Innocent's election as pope, his nephew Opizzo had been appointed Latin Patriarch of Antioch.
After the death of Conrad IV in May 1254, the papal army was defeated by Manfred, Frederick II’s illegitimate son, who had become regent for Conradin, the infant son of Conrad IV. The Pope died soon after at Naples in December 1254.
Died – December 7, 1254. How he died. At the head of his papal army, Pope Innocent entered Naples the capital of southern Italy. While he was lying in bed sick there, word reached Pope Innocent IV of the victory of his enemy Manfred over papal forces on December 2nd at Foggia.
Innocent IV, orig. Sinibaldo Fieschi, (born 12th century, Genoa—died Dec. 7, 1254, Naples), Pope (1243–54). His clash with Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II formed an important chapter in the conflict between papacy and empire.
Count of Lavagna, born at Genoa, date unknown; died at Naples, 7 December, 1254. He was educated at Parma and Bologna. For some time he taught canon law at Bologna, then he became canon at Parma and in 1226 is mentioned as auditor of the Roman Curia.
After the death of Conrad IV, May 20, 1254, the pope finally recognized the hereditary claims of Conrad’s two-year-old son Conradin. Manfred also submitted, and Innocent made his solemn entry into Naples, October 27, 1254, but Manfred soon revolted and defeated the papal troops at Foggia (December 2, 1254).
Pope Gregory IX died in 1241, and the College of Cardinals immediately convened to elect a new pope. But the new pope, Celestine IV, died after a reign of only fifteen days. Meanwhile, the two cardinals were still held prisoner by the emperor, and Frederick was excommunicated.
