Guido was elected as the successor, took the name Paschal III, and was consecrated by Henry II of Leez, Bishop of Liège.

[2]: 247 In order to gain more support from Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, Paschal canonized Charlemagne in a magnificent celebration at Aachen in 1165.

Paschal soon lost the support of Burgundy, but the emperor crushed opposition in Germany and gained the cooperation of Henry II of England.

Supported by Frederick's imperial army, Paschal was enthroned at St Peter's on 22 July 1167, and Alexander III became a fugitive.

Frederick's campaign was halted by the sudden outbreak of an epidemic (malaria or the plague), which threatened to destroy the Imperial army and drove the emperor back to Germany.