Victor II

pope from 1055 to 1057, was a relative of the emperor Henry III. His name was Gebhard, and he was previously bishop of Eichstadt. Leo of Ostia (Chronicles Casin. 2, 89) states that the elevation of Gebhard to the pontificate was the work of the famous Hildebrand. The motive of that schemer's action in choosing so decided a friend of the emperor to fill the papal chair would seem to have been a desire to divide the imperial camp into two opposing factions. The experiment succeeded well, at least in so far as that Gebhard identified himself with the Cluniacensian party, whose head was Hildebrand. He attacked the practices of simony and marriage among the priests, issuing energetic prohibitions and holding several councils in France against them. In 1056 he was present at the death-bed of Henry III in Germany, and became the guardian of the infant heir of that prince and the counselor of his widow. He died soon after his return to Italy in the summer of 1057. See Pagi, Breviarium Paparum Rom. 1, 528 sq.; Hofler, Gesch. d. deutschen Papste; Gfrörer, Gregor. VII, 1, 560; and the Church histories.