Pope Adrian IV, a longtime friend of Manuel Comnenus and the cause of Milan, dies. The majority of cardinals choose the Sienese Cardinal of San Marco, Rolando Bardinelli, who takes the name Alexander III, while the minority chooses Ottaviano Monticelli, Cardinal of Santa Cecilia. The choice of Alexander III is a disaster for Frederick Barbarossa, as the pope is openly hostile to the Empire. Frederick therefore decides not to recognize the new pope, and instead has Ottaviano Monticelli crowned as Pope Victor IV.
