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	Pope Leo IV
Pope Leo IV, who reigned from 847-855, became Pope in the wake of the troubling attacks of North African Muslims [known as Saracens] on Rome in 846. As soon as Leo became Pope, he took precautions to guard against future attacks on Rome by rebuilding the cities walls and towers and enclosing Vatican hill in defensive walls. Its fortified portion became known as the Leonine City. Leo also engineered a major campaign to refurbish the great churches in Rome, which had been plundered in 846. Leo's fears of another attack were not unfounded, as in 849 a large Saracen fleet set sail for Rome but was destroyed by combined Italian fleets with the help of bad weather.The Pope also developed a professional relationship with the Carolingian leaders Lothair and Louis. In something of a prefigurement of Pope Urban II's offering of indulgences for participation in a crusade in 1095, Leo IV made a similar offer to the Frankish army in their battles with the "Heathen." [Below]              Now we hope that none of you will be slain, but we wish you to know that the kingdom of              heaven will be given as a reward to those who shall be killed in this war. For the Omnipotent              knows that they lost their lives fighting for the truth of the faith, for the preservation of their              country...and the defense of Christians. And therefore, God will give then, the reward which              we have named. In Migne, Patrologia Latina, 115- 656-657, and 161-720. Trans. Oliver J. Thatcher, and Edgar Holmes McNeal, eds. A Source Book for Medieval History (New York: Scribners, 1905) 511-512. Taken from the Internet History Sourcebooks- See below. Pope Leo IV-Forgiveness of Sins for those Who Dies in Battle with the Heathen Internet History Sourcebooks Background to the Crusades- Crusades-Encyclopedia Saracen- Crusades-Encyclopedia Arab Conquests- Crusades-Encyclopedia Pope Leo IV- Catholic Encyclopedia (c) Andrew Holt, April 2005- Permission is granted for electronic copying or distribution in print for educational or personal use. No permission is granted for commercial use.