The Tree of Europe · Person
Nicholas III
Giovanni Gaetano Orsini, of the great Roman family, was pope from 1277 to 1280. He obtained Rudolf of Habsburg’s renunciation of Romagna and favoured his relatives, leading Dante to place him among the simoniacs.
This complete profile is available in English. Bibliographic titles retain their original language. Links marked ES open the Spanish edition.
Key details
Birth: 1210 Approximate
Death: 1280 Pending review
Role: Pope
Dynasty: Orsini · ES
Territories: Papal States (ES)
Recorded governments and reigns
Pope · Papal States · Pontificate Pending review1277–1280Effective rule
Recorded relationships
Parents
Matteo Rosso Orsini · ESPending reviewPerna Caetani · ESPending review
Evidence for this profile
5 recorded claims · 5 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.
Dates (0/2 with a precise source)
- BirthApproximate
1210
A precise source has not yet been added. - DeathPending review
1280
A precise source has not yet been added.
Family and relationships (0/2 with a precise source)
- FatherPending review
Matteo Rosso Orsini
A precise source has not yet been added. - MotherPending review
Perna Caetani
A precise source has not yet been added.
Governments (0/1 with a precise source)
- GovernmentPending review
Pope · Papal States · 1277–1280
A precise source has not yet been added.
Editorial history
- 2026-10-12 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
- 2026-10-08 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
- 2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
- 2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
- 2026-10-03 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
- 2026-09-30 · The duchy is limited to Dijon and Autun; each other fief now enters the map only under its dated ruler. John III of Namur and the Nevers/Rethel branch were added. The previous shape combined later counties and unrelated lands as if all belonged to the duchy from 1363.
- 2026-09-28 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
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