Archbishop Mercius IV
Mercius IV | |
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| Church | Salist Church |
| Papacy began | 4 August 1264 |
| Papacy ended | 19 December 1298 |
| Predecessor | James XXIII |
| Successor | Darius VII |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Robertius Gallacus |
| Born | 18 June 1229 Gallacia, Saletrist States |
| Died | 19 December 1298 (aged 69) Robertia, Saletrist States |
| Parents | Robertius Gallacus |
| Sainthood | |
| Feast day | 19 Decemeber |
| Venerated in | All denominations except Katherinicanist churches |
Archbishop Mercius IV (Ledonian: MERCATORIVZ; born Robertius Gallacus c. 18 June 1229 – 19 December 1298) was the head of the Salist Church and ruler of the Saletrist States from 4 August 1264 until his death on 19 December 1298.
Archbishop Mercius was among the most influential of medieval Saletrist archbishops. He managed to convince several predominantly Saletrist nations to initiate the Three Hundred Years' War, and claimed his superiority over Foclaininthian kings. The archbishop was a key figure in democratization of Foclaininthian states and refinement of the local cultures.
Early life
Robertius Gallacus was born in Gallacia, in the Saletrist States. It was long thought that he had been the author of The Laws of Piety and Devotedness, but historians Üdo Rändölf, Lodovicco Giotelli, and Henri Beuxlairét have determined that his father of the same name was in fact the author.
Robertius likely studied at the University of Ruthsford in the sciences. This, as Beuxlairét notes, was a very typical path for young men of the time. However, Robertius was too poor to sustain his education, and went to Robertia to become a monk.
Archbishop of Araq
Election, 1264
James XXIII died on 27 September 1264. Just a day prior to his death, he had suggested that Robertius be elected to the role of Archbishop. Gallacus took the name Mercius IV as a reference to Mercius III, who had succeeded in evangelizing much of Foclaininth.
Three Hundred Years' War
In 1289, Mercius IV delivered a speech in Gallacia calling Saletrists to forget their differences and fight against the pagan Trihhimic peoples. The speech was largely effective, galvanizing nobility and peasants alike and initiating the Three Hundred Years' War.