ABSTRACT
For two thirds of the twelfth century, Hyacinth Bobone was involved in many of the fundamental changes in the politics, religion and culture of his age.1 A major counsellor to many popes and then himself successor of Saint Peter, he was closely involved in French affairs, first when he defended Peter Abelard in 1141 and Gilbert de la Porrée in 1148, then as a skilful diplomatic cardinal, above all between 1148 and 1174, and finally during his pontificate, as he attempted to tame the young King Philip II of France, son of his deceased friend Louis VII.
