1118 papal election

The 1118 Papal Election was held to choose the successor for Pope Paschal II, who died in Rome on 21 January 1118, after an 18-year pontificate.

Within minutes of his election as pope, Gelasius II was attacked and imprisoned by the Frangipani faction, supporters of the Holy Roman Emperor.

[2] Indeed, some historians have pointed out the inaccuracy of Pandulf's account, including his list of electors, given his support for Antipope Anacletus II (1130–1138), who made him a cardinal.

According to the work of Rudolf Huls, the College of Cardinals had only 41 members as of January 1118: 6 bishops, 20 priests, and 15 deacons, of which the following 36 participated in the election:[d] Two subdeacons were in attendance, Nicholas, Provost of the Choir School, and Amico O.S.B.

[h] It can be established that at least two cardinal-priests, two cardinal-bishops, and a cardinal-deacon were absent: During his papacy, Paschal II waged the investiture controversy with Emperor Henry V, who had a considerable following among the aristocracy of Rome.

[26] After his death, the Cardinals took refuge in the Palladium (S. Maria in Pallara),[27] a Benedictine monastery on the Palatine Hill, fearing the violence of supporters of the emperor.

[i] On 24 January 1118, three days after the customary prayers and devotions, the electors unanimously chose Cardinal Giovanni Coniulo from Gaeta for the papacy, the cardinal-deacon of Santa Maria in Cosmedin and Chancellor of the Holy See.

Shortly after his election, as the clergy and people were celebrating Gelasius' enthronement, Cenzio Frangipani, a supporter of the emperor,[j] whose house and headquarters were next door to S. Maria in Pallara, broke into the church with his followers and assaulted the pope.