L’afastamento di Sancho II di Portogallo: un esempio di Realpolitik

This essay considers the so-called “deposition” of Sancho II of Portugal in favour of his brother, the Count of Boulogne and future Afonso III, and the involvement of Pope Innocent IV in the events. It shows how the pontiff had no bias toward either of the factions involved in the dispute (at least not openly). Actually , the papacy adopted a prudent and willingly ambiguous behaviour in a Portuguese context already in turmoil – further evidence of the papal Realpolitik often adopted on these occasions. The “struggle for life” and the limited ability to intervene in another kingdom played a fundamental role in Innocent IV’s chosen strategy, in which he tried to “play on multiple tables”.