When did, for the first time, a Pope become the ruler of a secular state?

coachpauly

This situation was resolved on 11 February 1929 between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy. The Lateran Treaty was signed by Benito Mussolini on behalf of King Victor Emmanuel III and by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Gasparri for Pope Pius XI. The treaty, which became effective on 7 June 1929, and the Concordat established the independent State of the Vatican City and granted Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatican_City Dec 09 11, 6:23 PM

sportsherald

While the recent history of Vatican City provides part of the answer, there previously existed the "Papal States" for several centuries, 752-1870- see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papal_States. The Popes over these years had varying degrees of secular control over these areas (roughly modern Latium), but they did exert full secular control for extended times, and did tax, raise armies, fight wars, and so on, including fighting against the unification of Italy. When this unification finally did occur in 1870, the enclave now known as Vatican City became a fortress/prison until the 1929 treaty, and one side of the bronze door of the Vatican Palace was kept closed in mourning from 1870 until 1929. The 1929 treaty included Italy paying the Vatican millions of dollars in compensation for the ancient lands lost. See http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0607.html. Dec 10 11, 2:29 AM

flem-ish

I have a written source which claims that it was one of the Pippins -the precursors of Charlemagne - who gave the Popes some territory to rule. No "on line" confirmation however. Dec 10 11, 1:43 PM

sportsherald

The Wikipedia article cited earlier does say that Pepin the Short conquered the area and then "donated" it to the Church- see also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donation_of_Pepin. Pepin was Charlemagne's father. Dec 10 11, 3:58 PM