description Papal States Overview
The Papal States were a collection of territories in central Italy governed directly by the pope as a temporal ruler. Their conventional history begins with the Donation of Pepin in 756, and at different times they included Rome and parts of Lazio, Umbria, the Marche, and Romagna; the remaining territory was annexed by the Kingdom of Italy during Italian unification, with the capture of Rome in 1870 ending papal territorial rule.
help Papal States FAQ
What were the Papal States?
The Papal States were territories in central Italy ruled directly by the pope as a temporal, or political, ruler. At different times they included Rome and parts of Lazio, Umbria, the Marche, and Romagna.
When did the Papal States begin?
Their conventional history begins with the Donation of Pepin in 756. That event helped establish the pope's territorial rule in central Italy.
Why were the Papal States important?
They gave the papacy direct political control over land as well as religious authority. This made Rome and surrounding territories a major part of European church and state politics for centuries.
What happened to the Papal States?
The territories were absorbed into the Kingdom of Italy during Italian unification, with Rome annexed in 1870. The modern Vatican City is separate from the much larger historical Papal States.
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