Pope Anastasius IV died on 3 December 1154 in Rome, at a very advanced age.

The College of Cardinals assembled in Old St. Peter's Basilica on the next day to elect his successor.

On 4 December 1154 the cardinals unanimously elected Cardinal-Bishop of Albano Nicholas Breakspeare, former legate in Scandinavia (1152–1153).

Cardinal Giacinto Bobone is known to have been in Spain at that time; he served there as papal legate from the spring of 1154 until the end of 1155.

[5] Gerard de Namur was legate in Germany,[6] while Ildebrando in Lombardy.