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Papal States: Quick Facts

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Facts

Also Known As Republic of Saint Peter • Stati Della Chiesa • Stati Pontifici • Church States • Stati della Chiesa
Date 756 - 1870

Photos

Side-by-side maps of central Italy showing the changing boundaries of the Papal States. The left map highlights the Papal States after the Treaty of Vienna in 1815 in green, showing their greatest extent. The right map shows the Papal States' reduced territory just before absorption into Italy, with orange marking areas annexed in 1860 and yellow showing the final area annexed in 1870, centered ar
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Related Topics and References

Topics
Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic

Major Events

Watercolor etching by August Friedrich Andreas Campe showing diplomats and military officers in ornate uniforms gathered around a large table with maps at the Congress of Vienna.
Congress of Vienna
Painting by Jakob Seisenegger showing Emperor Charles V in ornate Renaissance attire standing beside a large hunting dog, with a green curtain in the background.
Sack of Rome
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Treaty of Amiens
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Roman question

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Key People

St. Thomas Aquinas
St. Thomas Aquinas
Italian Christian theologian and philosopher
Gregory VII excommunicating Henry IV
St. Gregory VII
pope
St. Gregory the Great
St. Gregory the Great
pope
Innocent III
Innocent III
pope
Photograph of Pope Pius IX
Pius IX
pope
Lorenzo Bernini: Apollo and Daphne
Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Italian artist
Medallion depicting Pope Julius II
Julius II
pope
Guicciardini, Francesco
Francesco Guicciardini
Italian historian and statesman
Pius V
St. Pius V
pope
The second founder of the Franciscans, St. Bonaventure
Saint Bonaventure
Italian theologian
St. Celestine V
St. Celestine V
pope
Bronze medallion showing a left-facing portrait of Pope Sixtus IV in papal regalia, with Latin inscription around the edge.
Sixtus IV
pope
Urban VIII
Urban VIII
pope
Martin V
Martin V
pope
Algardi, Alessandro: Tomb of Pope Leo XI
Alessandro Algardi
Italian sculptor
Gregory XIII
Gregory XIII
pope
Lucrezia Borgia
Lucrezia Borgia
Italian noble
Portrait print of Italian scientist Laura Bassi seated at a desk, holding a book and compass, with scientific instruments and draped curtains in the background.
Laura Bassi
Italian scientist
Arnold of Brescia
Arnold of Brescia
Italian religious reformer
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Nicholas Of Cusa
cardinal, scientist, scholar, and philosopher