with the temporary absence of Emperor Frederick I. This was, as I said, only temporary because when Frederick returned to Italy in 1166 he started threatening Alexander again, which forced him into a second exile once again. So Alexander went to northern Italy for support but they were deeply worried about their independence and safety from Emperor Frederick I and his empire. The result from all constant bombardment from Frederick was the formation of the Lombard League. This council provided Alexander with the support needed to carry on his rivalry with Frederick I. (Munz, p. 15, 1973) Frederick I did not want Alexander as pope and disliked him very much. So he got one of his distant relatives as anti-pope, Victor IV. There is not enough information on this double election in the church, but both Alexander III and Victor IV were on the Third Lateran Council. ( Munz 1973) From the month of March 1162 until November 1165, Alexander went north of the Alps in France to keep away from Frederick Is attacks on him. Alexander did not waste his time while in exile; he made friends with, Louis VII the king of France. Although as David Knowles says he got support from the, slippery king of England, in King Henry II who ruled over the continental complex of territories from the Pyrenees to the straits of Dover. It was very obvious at this time, in the middle of Alexanders refuge, that Thomas Becket and Henry II did not care for each other. Alexander III was directly in the middle of this feud but should of, as I quote Knowles, kept the initiative with a minimum of double-dealing. (Knowles, 1971)It was now clear to Becket that king Henry and himself were not going to clear this matter up any time soon so he moved to a religious house called the Pontigny. Alexander blessed this move, which happened on November, 2 1164 until December, 2 1170, that Becket did by sending him a rough clothe and a personal letter to him. In 1166 Becket ...
