Arnulf III

Who was Arnulf III?

Arnulf III was the Archbishop of Milan from his election on 6 December 1093 to his death in 1097. He succeeded Anselm III only two days after his death. Along with Anselm III and Anselm IV, he was one of a trio of successive Ambrosian pontiffs to side with pope against emperor in the late 11th and early 12th century.

Though his election had been vaild, he was invested by Conrad II, but the papal legate declared him a simoniac and deposed. Consequently, he was never consecrated. Arnulf went into a brief retirement of penance at the monastery of S. Pietro di Civate, where Anselm III had gone for a similar reason during his episcopate. After his brief sojourn there, he was reconciled with Pope Urban II and received the pallium. According to Pandulf of Pisa, this was the moment of his consecration. Bernold of Constance places his consecration in March 1095. It was performed by three great bishops of the German Gregorian reform: Thimo of Salzburg, Odalric of Passau, and Gebhard III of Constance.

Arnulf himself became an enthusiastic reformer and opponent of the Emperor Henry IV. He participated in the Council of Piacenza.