Election of Pope Urban II

Date: March 12, 1088 • Location: Rome, Italy

Odo of Châtillon was elected as the 159th pope of the Catholic Church.

Pope Urban II, otherwise known as Odo of Châtillon or Otho de Lagery, was the head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 12 March 1088 to his death. He is best known for convening the Council of Clermont, which ignited the series of Catholic military expeditions known as the Crusades.