Honorius III
Successor of Innocent III. He confirmed Dominic’s community at Toulouse in December 1216 and the Rule of the Friars Minor in November 1223.
Roger of Wendover says that Innocent III was succeeded by Honorius, “formerly called Cencio”, who held the see for ten years, seven months and nineteen days (Roger of Wendover, Flowers of History p. 398). In the first year of his pontificate he issued the privilege that confirmed the community of Dominic at Toulouse under the Rule of Augustine (Honorius III, Religiosam vitam (22 December 1216)), and a month later addressed its members as preachers (Honorius III, Gratiarum omnium largitori (21 January 1217)). In his eighth year he confirmed the Rule of the brothers of Francis of Assisi, in which Francis promises obedience to “the Lord Pope Honorius” (Rule of the Friars Minor (1223) bull of confirmation).
Wendover dates his death to 18 March 1227 and names Gregory, bishop of Ostia, as his successor (Roger of Wendover, Flowers of History p. 486). See Dominic Founds the Order of Preachers and Francis of Assisi and the Friars Minor.
In the timeline
- about 1209, estimated dateFrancis of Assisi and the Friars Minor
Francis of Assisi gives up his property to live by the Gospel in poverty, gathers brothers and wins the approval of Pope Innocent III. Clare founds a sister community, and in 1223 Honorius III confirms the Rule of the Friars Minor.
- 22 December 1216, firm dateDominic Founds the Order of Preachers
Dominic, a Spanish canon who had spent nearly ten years preaching against heresy in southern France, gathers a community at Toulouse. Pope Honorius III confirms it in December 1216, and within five years its friars are in Paris, Bologna and Spain.